Hot-shooting VanderWoude helps Forest Hills Central to a fast start
Forest Hills Central’s Jonas VanderWoude drives to the basket against Kenowa Hills at Calvin University in Dec. 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
ADA, Mich. - Jonas VanderWoude likes to shoot hundreds of jump shots in an empty gym. He likes to hear the swish of the ball going through the net and the sound of his basketball shoes on the wood court.
Just alone with his thoughts and a basketball.
The Forest Hills Central senior has a lot on his mind right now.
He thinks about his new role on the team, how his Rangers are on a 7-1 run, what college he will play for next year. Not to mention being a student.
“There’s nothing better than shooting in an empty gym,” VanderWoude said. “I love it being just me and the ball. If someone else has practice in here, I’ll go over to the old gym and shoot in there.”
Do his parents think he’s crazy for spending his free time alone in the gym?
“My mom does,” he said with a smile. “My dad says ‘you know you can just take a chill day.’ I just think it’s fun.”
The Forest Hills Central basketball team poses after winning its bracket at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Jonas VanderWoude was named MVP. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
VanderWoude, a 6-foot-3, 175 pound shooting guard, has always been a talented player. But he’s blossomed into a star this year. He had games of 17 and 22 points in the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament and was named MVP. He’s drained 25 3-pointers and is averaging 20 points per game so far.
“After last season, I knew that I would have to step it up (my senior year),” VanderWoude said. “We lost four seniors that went on to play college sports. I knew that if we were going to win, I would have to step up - not just scoring-wise - but we lost two captains. So I knew i’d have to be there for all the guys on the team.”
Forest Hills Central has a starting lineup of VanderWoude, Ty Hudkins, Brendan Cargill, Brady Miller and either Owen Godley or Matt Sexton.
“It’s fun because I’m surrounded by a lot of good players,” VanderWoude said. “So if I’m having an off day, it just goes to the next game. Brendan Cargill and I are both shooting around 50 percent from three and as a team we’re all shooting pretty good.”
The engine that makes the Rangers go, is Miller, the senior point guard.
“Brady is one of the most important guys on our team,” VanderWoude said. “He gets the ball up the court with a lot of defensive pressure on him. He’s our leading rebounder and assist guy. So he’s really important. He’s always playing hard. He’s got long arms so he gets steals. He’s really shifty.”
Jonas VanderWoude played with the Grand Rapids Storm AAU team for many of his summers. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
But there’s no question that VanderWoude is the go-to guy on offense. He’s been an elite shooter for his Grand Rapids Storm team and during the high school season, too.
“Sophomore year, I was just on the team to shoot threes,” he said. “Now I work on getting in the paint and I like to shoot pull-up jumpers. My game definitely has expanded over the past two years.”
He has a new coach this year, too, in Jordan George. But George isn’t new to the players. His father, Ken George, was the long-time varsity coach and teacher at Forest Hills Central. Ken George is an assistant coach at Hope College.
“He’s really young, but he’s been around since we were growing up,” VanderWoude said of Jordan George. “We all respect him and what he has to say. He can get serious and he gets after us sometimes. It’s good to have new ideas and opinions. We also have two new (assistant) coaches in Chris Ray and Paul Marandet, they both know what they’re talking about.”
Jonas VanderWoude shoots a 3-pointer against Tri-Unity Christian at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 21, 2023. He finished with 17 points in the game. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
VanderWoude is just starting to get attention from area colleges. He has offers from Hope College, Calvin University and Grand Rapids Community College and Spring Arbor really likes him, but hasn’t offered yet. His father, Jason, played basketball at Hope College.
“I just want to have an opportunity to play next year, play a lot and have an impact at that school and not just ride the bench. I honestly don’t care what level that’s at.”
Other than his elite shooting ability, VanderWoude is mostly known for his infectious smile and for his curly blond hair, which is amusing to him.
“I haven’t met anyone that’s like ‘I hate your hair,’” he said. ‘Most are like ‘oh, I love your curls. I love your blond hair.’ It’s definitely easy to spot me on the court. That’s kind of what I’m known for. I can’t cut it now.”
Jonas VanderWoude drives to the basket against Tri-Unity Christian at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 21, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
