Senior spotlight: Cale Jacoby thrives in starting role with Auburndale
AUBURNDALE - Cale Jacoby was the first player off the bench for the Auburndale boys basketball team last year as a junior. This season, he has moved into the starting lineup and has been one of the team's most productive players.
The 6-foot-2 senior forward entered the week as the team's leading rebounder and was the second-leading scorer for an Auburndale team which is 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Marawood Conference South Division.
"I think his biggest growth has been the mental part (of the game)," Auburndale coach Chad Weinfurter said. "He always has had that physical talent — a quick kid who is naturally strong and wiry. I think he is understanding the game a little bit better this year and with a senior, that is kind of what you hope for.
"He is the second-leading scorer for us and has kind of taken over that lead post role in our offense," Weinfurter said. "He is probably quicker than a lot of guys who guard him, and he uses that to his advantage."
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Jacoby, who also was a defensive end and tight end for the Auburndale football team, recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his changing role with the team this year, his pregame rituals and future plans, among other subjects.
Do you have a certain nickname your friends/teammates or family members call you?
A lot of my friends call me "Veggie" because of kale. They started calling me it last year and that kind of stuck, I guess.
With football or basketball, what has been your most memorable sports moment?
For football, it was when I had my first touchdown my junior year. That was pretty cool. Then getting first-team all-(Marawood) conference at receiver this year and winning a playoff game this fall for the first time since my freshman year.
Are you superstitious at all or have any certain pregame routines?
I wear the same stuff for every away or home (basketball) game and then me and one of my teammates, Jason Wilcox, have a handshake we do before every game.
What is one thing about this year's basketball team which really sticks out to you?
I think we are really versatile. We have a lot of guys with similar skill sets and I think we all have pretty high basketball IQs. We can move the ball pretty well on offense but I think unselfishness is the biggest thing. We need to work a little more on the defense. We have been struggling a little with that.
Talk about your role changing with the team. You were the sixth man last season and have moved into a starting position this year.
I don't think a lot has changed. I try and play the same way — be aggressive ... but this year I have tried to take on a little more of a scoring role. Last year I was coming off the bench and trying to fit into the flow of the game. This year it's more that I kind of got to make things happen more.
What do you feel is the strength of your game?
I take pride in rebounding the most. We are all similarly sized guys (on the team) but I'm probably the biggest guy in our rotation so I would say, yeah, my rebounding is probably what I take the most pride in to make sure the other team doesn't destroy us on the glass.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Ariana Grande.
Where is your dream vacation?
California. Somwhere by the beaches.
What is your post-graduation plan:
I am pretty set on (Minnesota State) Mankato and going for mass media/journalism.
FAVORITES
Sport: Football.
Pro or college athlete: My favorite has always been LeBron James but I like Adam Thielen of the Vikings, a guy who came from a small school, too.
Movie: I really like the Marvel movies. My favorite one has to be "Captain America: Civil War."
TV show: "The Office."
Food or meal: A good steak.