Junior center Jordan Weeks wants to stand tall and be counted for West Aurora.
Checking in at 6-foot-8, he certainly has no problem with the former. The latter has taken more time for Weeks, who transferred in late during the summer from Class 1A Aurora Christian.
He’s getting there, however.
“It’s way harder, but I like it,” Weeks said of playing against primarily Class 4A competition. “I came here for that exposure. In 1A, it looked like I was playing against middle schoolers.
“ I came here to show what I can do at a higher level. It’s been decent. Second half of the season is probably the best I’ve been playing so far. I was kind of warming up the first half.”
Weeks made his first start of the season Saturday and did well with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Blackhawks in a 66-62 overtime loss to Downers Grove North at the 32nd annual Batavia Night of Hoops.
Junior point guard Travis Brown led West Aurora (13-10) by scoring a game-high 25 points to go with five assists and five steals. And Brown also has been impressed again by Weeks.
“Jordan and I have played together before — since third grade,” Brown said. “We go way back in travel ball. He’s a big help.”
Drew Lundberg, a 6-4 senior forward who shot 4 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line, added 15 points for the Blackhawks.
Brown and Lundberg were matched by Connor Crowley and Colin Doyle with 21 and 20 points, respectively, for Downers Grove North (12-10). Two others had 10 apiece for the Trojans.
It made the difference for Downers Grove North, which fielded a bunch of young sharpshooters who hit 50% (13 of 26) from 3-point range, all in regulation. West Aurora did shoot 53% (10 of 19) on 3-pointers. The Trojans made 9 of 10 free throws in OT, with the Blackhawks limited to five.
“Looking at their roster with No. 1 out there, I was like there could be no purpose in not putting him in the lineup to go against their big guy,” West Aurora coach Mike Fowler said of Weeks. “I think he did a solid job.
“We were trying to make it tough for (Doyle) out there. I can’t knock Jordan’s effort.”
The 6-6 Doyle, a two-sport star, is committed to Duke for baseball as a right-handed pitcher.
“I have to work on my perimeter defense,” Weeks said. “No. 1 was tough to guard. He was like a bigger version of Drew. I have to work on that and keep moving. Everything has to be quicker.”
Weeks impressed early, stepping out and draining a 3-pointer for West Aurora’s first points of the game. He followed that up by dribbling inside the 3-point line and making a 17-foot jumper.
“It may surprise some people a lot, but I feel I can do it,” Weeks said of the 3-pointer. “I have to keep showing it. If they play me back at the start of the game, I have to hit those.
“Make them play me a little harder.”
Brown confirmed that Weeks and Lundberg playing together has potential.
“It gives us a lot more size on the inside,” Brown said. “They both can knock down the 3-ball. Jordan made a strong showcase for his skills. I think he deserved to start.”
Fowler wants Weeks to embrace the challenge of starting.
“It’s definitely something he’s capable of doing,” Fowler said. “It’s been a little bit of a slow process, getting him to where we wanted him to be. It’s the type of player he wants to be. He can be something of a dominant force as a five. Hopefully, he’s getting there.
“He has the touch, the full work around the rim. We don’t stop him from shooting if he’s open. His last four games have been pretty solid, slowly giving us another piece to our puzzle.”
