By Bobby Narang
By mid-Summer, Timothy Christian High School senior guard Ben VanderWal had become one of the fastest rising basketball recruits in Chicagoland.
With that, VanderWal learned to become used to spending a lot of time talking on the phone, a lot of time.
The 6-foot-6 VanderWal gained 13 college offers in a four-plus week span, including earning an offer from UIC. Before the start of the summer, VanderWal did not have a offer despite a strong showing in the condensed season.
VanderWal’s offer list includes Bucknell, Milwaukee, Furman, Kent State, UC Davis, Wright State, Lipscomb, Radford, Eastern Illinois, Dartmouth, IUPUI and William & Mary.
“It’s been a crazy last few weeks, but I’m enjoying it,” VanderWal said. “I’m upwards of 10 phone calls a day after tournaments. I’m talking to assistants, head coaches, and just working through stuff.
“I was hopeful this would happen. This is what I was working for: the spring and Summer of my junior season. I’m excited for all these opportunities. I’m really happy with the way my game is progressing, and getting to see the fruits of my labor.”
In a 16-game junior season, VanderWal showed an inside-outside game that was on track to bloom to summer. He averaged 17.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game to go with 28 3-pointers and 72 free throws made in 90 attempts. Many games, VanderWal was no longer his team’s secondary option, but became the go-to option even over Josh Harris.
“We had a really good short season, winning 14 games and beating 3A and 4A schools,” VanderWal said. “The biggest thing (coaches) tell me is they like my versatility at 6-6, where I can play like a guard and also able to do a lot off the dribble and make plays for others, or myself. Coaches tell me I can play guard, wing or a stretch-four in some situations. The way the game of basketball is changing is that it’s becoming a position-less game, so you have to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot.”
VanderWal admitted it’s been a topsy-turvy Summer, but he welcomes all the attention after putting in so much work on his basketball game over the last few years.
“I’ve been reminded by so many great people that everything happens for a reason and will work out if you keep working hard and doing things the right way,” he said. “It’s been an unbelievable experience. I’m accomplishing what I what I wanted to do, and reached a goal I set for myself.”