Athlete of the Week: Jake LePrevost

Scoing 30 points in a 20-point win over a struggling Monument Mountain team last Tuesday was one thing.

But what Lee High School's Jake LePrevost did the next time out was something else.

LePrevost scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had six steals on Thursday in a key three-point win on the road against South Division-leading Mount Greylock.

It was the kind of week any player would love to have, and it was not atypical for the lanky senior guard.

"He's had a big year, but last week was definitely a big week," Lee coach Korte said.

LePrevost is averaging 22.5 points and about eight rebounds, six assists and four steals this winter for the Wildcats (9-6), who have another showdown Tuesday against St. Joseph before finishing off the home portion of their schedule on Friday against Lenox.

The co-captain is a big reason why Lee is on the verge of a return to the Western Massachusetts Division 3 tournament, where last year the 'Cats lost to the Crusaders in the sectional final.

"He's both our best ballhandler and one of our best rebounders," said Korte. "He's a versatile player."

"Plus, he's big, which makes him a difficult matchup for most guards in the county. He's a quick enough to guard smaller players, and that makes him difficult to pass over."

LePrevost also has a knack for making big plays at key moments, Korte said, and that his skill was on display against the Mounties on Thursday. The game was tied, 53-53, with about five minutes left, but LePrevost made three steals and scored the go-ahead points in the closing moments.

LePrevost has been making plays like that since he began starting for the Wildcats as a sophomore. Three years later, he is more valuable than ever for Lee.

"He's a fantastic leader," Korte said. "He does things the right way all the time, so he leads by example. He's a great kid, a great student and he's never been disrespectful to anybody. He always carries himself and conducts himself in the way you'd want a leader on your basketball team to do."