By: BHS Senior Jordan Frantz
Austin Webb brings the ball up the floor. Photos courtesy Nicholas StudiosBellbrook senior Austin Webb is known for his outstanding 3-point shot. After all, Webb is the all-time leader in 3s made for the Eagles.
The Eagles game on December 28 at Hilliard-Davidson wasn’t just another game. It was the game where Webb’s first 3-point shot helped him reach 1,000 points in his career – something that only seven other players have been able to do in the history of the boys basketball program.
“It was always a goal of mine to score 1,000 points,” Webb said. “It felt good knowing that all of my hard work had finally paid off. Ever since I was younger I would watch Luke Kennard break records and records and I knew I wanted to do that, too. Hitting 1,000 points was always the goal.”
The night before facing Hilliard Davidson, the Eagles hosted Beavercreek and Webb went for 21 points falling one short of the milestone. He was 11-for-11 from the foul line and 33% from the field.
“Beating Beavercreek this year was my favorite game,” Webb said. “Winning against one of the biggest schools in the state and having great community support was awesome. The game environment was incredible.”
This isn’t Webb’s first rodeo as he has been a member of the boy’s varsity team for four years. He even started a few games near the end of his freshman season, so it was no surprise he was able to achieve this milestone. Webb is now the eighth men’s basketball player to achieve this goal and the 15th overall in school history.
“If you’ve seen the time and effort Austin puts into his craft, you know this achievement is a result of years of dedication,” coach Donnie Tate said. “He’s also had teammates around him who can score so teams can’t focus on just stopping him, which takes some pressure off of him.”
During Webb’s freshman season, he scored 192 points for the team. He scored an outstanding 371 points as a sophomore, 330 points as a junior, and he currently sits at 192 points for his senior season with more to come.
“Austin is a dedicated, hard-working, and highly skilled player who sets the tone for our team with his effort and work ethic,” Tate said. “He’s always in the gym, putting up shots, and refining his game. His consistency and passion for basketball are unmatched, and he brings a sense of focus and determination to every practice and game.”
Webb’s elite scoring is backed up by his efficiency. Webb shoots 44.8% from behind the arc and a 46.8% from the field overall. The average 3-point shooting percentage is 33-37%, according to Hoops Forum, putting Webb well above the average. He also chips in 2.4 assists per game.
Webb has scored 20 points or more 17 times in his high school career, including a pair of 26-point games as a sophomore.
“The other guys know how much time he puts in to be the best player he can be and they respect that,” Tate said. “He knows that this incredible feat is not only the result of his hard work, but more importantly, he knows it wouldn’t be possible without his teammates the last four seasons.”
Webb’s basketball career won’t be finished after this year. He has signed on to play for the Trailblazers at Ohio Christian University, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), an independent in the Midwest Region at the Division I level.