As Top Scorer on County’s Last Unbeaten Hoops Team, Kloesel Powers Way to Our Player of the Week Honors
The Flatonia high school boy’s basketball team has surged to an impressive 5-0 start this season, thanks in large part to sophomore guard Holden Kloesel, who is currently the team’s leading scorer.
“We knew Holden’s a good player,” said Flatonia head boy’s basketball coach Chris Sodek. “We knew that all along. He’s been a good player since he was in junior high, but he’s taken his game to a new level this year. The one thing that I can say about him is he is very open to constructive criticism. In the past, maybe if we told him something that he needed to work on, he looked at it one way, but this year I can say whatever we put out there for him to get better, he goes hard and tries to make those corrections. You can tell in his game. I can also see that he’s one of the kids that calls me to open the gym to get some extra shots up and put in extra work. I think you’re starting to see a lot of that extra work and what it does for him to become a better player. His teammates are noticing that too. So when they see a guy like Holden working hard, they’re inclined to work harder and it just helps our whole team altogether. We got a lot of good kids that are putting in extra effort and that’s why we’re off to a good start.”
Kloesel’s relentless work ethic has propelled him to a spot for this editon’s Player of the Week.
Question: What are some reasons why you think you and your team have had so much success?
Answer: “It just feels like our chemistry is insane right now. We do a great job of giving the open guy a shot, getting rebounds, and a lot of assists. We’re just hitting shots right now.”
Question: Who’s a NBA player you model your game after?
Answer: “Probably Steph Curry because I like shooting a lot and I feel like I can hit an open shot if I’m open.”
Question: What’s your favorite basketball movie?
Answer: “Space Jam”
Question: Can you describe the kind of influence basketball has had on you?
Answer: “It’s taught me to be more open minded, take criticism, and to be a better person.”
Question: Do you play any other sports besides basketball?
Answer: “I play football and I run track.”
Question: What is your most valued present on your Christmas list?
Answer: “Probably some new shoes.”
Question: Who would you say is the greatest basketball player of all time and why?
Answer: “LeBron James. I don’t really care about all the championships they win. It’s just stats. Michael Jordan has more championships, but LeBron I think is just better.”
Question: If you had to assemble a “Dream Team” starting five, who all would you choose?
Answer: “Steph (Curry) at point guard, LeBron at power forward, Michael Jordan at shooting guard, then I’d have Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) and Shaq out there.”
Question: What’s your favorite part about the sport of basketball?
Answer: “It doesn’t really matter if you’re hot at one point because you can instantly cool down and get back hot. It’s not just about one player doing one thing.”
Question: Who do you have winning this year’s NBA championship and why?
Answer: “Probably the Lakers again. I think they’re going to repeat. They got a bunch of new guys and they still got LeBron and AD (Anthony Davis).”
Kloesel’s range from distance has helped carry a solid all-around Bulldog team with the potential to make a run in the postseason.
Fayette Co. Record’s Player of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON
Recent FCR’s Players of the Week
Sept. 25: Brett Janecek, Schulenburg Football
Oct. 2: Brooke Schobel, Round Top-Carmine Volleyball
Oct. 16: Brooklyn Jaeger, Fayetteville Volleyball
Oct. 23: Natalie Blackwell, La Grange Volleyball
Oct. 30: Taylor Limbaugh, Schulenburg Cross Country
Nov. 6: David Krupala, La Grange CC, Soccer, Cheerleading
Nov 13: Fayetteville Boys Cross Country Team
Nov. 20: Reese Ramirez, Flatonia Football
Dec. 4: Megan Brothers, La Grange Basketball
Dec. 11: Holden Kloesel, Flatonia Football
* Read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.