TRIMONT – Martin County West senior Jacob Wilmes was not only a key part of this year’s Mavericks’ game plan, he has been a key part throughout his varsity career.

Standing 6-foot-3, Wilmes’ dominance in the paint has allowed him to pass 1,000 career points to close out his high school basketball career.

“Jacob has put a lot of time in as far as his skill improvement around the hoop,” said Mavericks head coach Phillip Rotunda. “He is expanding his range and game as much as possible throughout there. But just when he’s going, he’s a tough force to be able to stop there.”

Wilmes had a solid senior season for the Mavericks, averaging 12.3 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game and 1.6 steals per game. He ended his season with 517 points, 253 rebounds, 106 assists, and 44 steals.

“He had a lot of games this year of just being a physical dominant force inside,” said Rotunda. “I know that he is fortunate enough to be able to finish out last Friday with a thousand points for his career as well. So, it was cool to be a part of that as a coach as well, and he was able to accomplish that before the end of the season.”

According to Rotunda, Wilmes came into this season focused on further developing his teamwork to be a more dynamic player.

“He kind of expanded being able to include his teammates there and be that team player,” said Rotunda. “So I think that that vision part of his game is just kind of as another added tool to it there. And that was kind of fun to watch this year, too.”

Wilmes is proud of his team’s performance this season. Despite an exit in the quarterfinal round, he believes that the team’s final record of 10-18 overall doesn’t do justice to what the Mavericks were able to do. The scores reflect that with many of the Mavericks’ losses being by a basket or two as they dropped seven games this year by 6 points or less.

“I feel like our record was worse than we were,” said Wilmes. “I mean, we played a lot of close games, lost a lot of close ones. We just didn’t really ever figure out how to win those close games.”

In addition to Rotunda’s thoughts, Wilmes echoes the sentiment that his hard work paid off in becoming a more well-rounded player.

“I just feel like from this year to last year, I just became a better all-around player,” said Wilmes. was way more efficient and made my teammates better.”

Looking back on his senior season of basketball, one moment sticks out in Wilmes’ mind and that was when the Mavericks defeated Cleveland 76-75 on Jan. 10. On top of that, Wilmes reached a personal goal this season of crossing the 1,000-point threshold.

“I knew I was kind of close,” said Wilmes. “But I think I scored like 5 or 6 straight points. I lost track there. Then I scored that one and the crowd went a little crazy. I was like, ‘Oh, there was my thousand points,’ but it has been a goal I’ve had for a long time. And it felt super good to hit it.”

Outside of his time on the court Wilmes is involved in almost every aspect of MCW athletics as a two-way player on the football field, a utility player for the baseball team and for his first season he will be joining the track and field roster.

As graduation approaches, Wilmes is weighing his options to continue his education. He is considering a major in physical therapy and getting back on the football field for whatever school he decides to attend.