“Wow! What a great start to the season for coach Potter.”
Those were the words that Jesuit men’s basketball coach Gene Potter uttered when senior Hudson Rommel informed him that he would be playing basketball this season.
A decision made just days before tryouts, Rommel was originally not going to play in order to solely focus on baseball. Committed to pitch for Linfield, a Division III baseball school located in McMinnville, Oregon, Rommel wanted to work on his baseball development and feared he could risk injury by playing basketball.
“I put a lot of thought into it,” Rommel said. “But feeling safe about knowing that I have a place to play college baseball, which was my ultimate goal, helped a lot. I also realized I am probably never going to have a chance to play competitive basketball again and realized if I passed on playing I don’t think it would have sat right with me.”
The Crusaders boast a 10-4 record so far and are 2-0 in Metro League play. They rank just outside the top five, currently sitting at six in the latest OSAA rankings. With aspirations of winning Metro, and making a deep run in the state playoffs, Rommel has been nothing short of crucial for Potter’s Crusaders.
Rommel has brought a much needed defensive presence that the past few Jesuit teams have lacked. He brings a sense of leadership that is evident on the court as he is the clear quarterback of the defense, directing his teammates where to be and making sure that no one is out of place.
Rommel plays a very similar game to Braden Rice. Rice graduated from Jesuit in 2019 and was a key member of the last basketball state championship team that defeated a stacked Jefferson in a nail biting game.
Rice was very similar to Rommel in the sense that he complimented the scorers on his team and had a very fundamental style of play. He would do all the “dirty work”: take charges, dive for loose balls, block out guys that were much bigger than him and would also add a casual five to ten points to the stat sheet.
Using his strong, athletic build, Rommel undoubtedly rebounds and plays defense very efficiently.
What a lot of people don’t give Rommel credit for is his shooting ability. He makes the offense more efficient and spreads out through the pick and pop game and in transition. It is clear he has become a trusted shooter, and players like Patrick Kilfoil and Tyler Curvy have no issue giving him opportunities.
“I think I bring a lot of leadership and basketball knowledge to the table,” Rommel said. “I am not the most skilled or athletic guy but my basketball IQ I would say is better than most players. I help spread the floor really well, being able to pass and get people open and can play defense on guys that are bigger than I am.”
After speaking with Rommel, another key reason for his return was coach Potter. Rommel emphasized how much his players love him and how discreetly he is able to prepare his team.
“I can tell that Potter loves the game of basketball and he loves his players. He cares about all of us and trusts us. The guy knows the game better than anyone I know and most people think he doesn’t really coach because he doesn’t stand up the whole game but it’s because he prepares us so well.”
