Topeka West point guard Marque Wilkerson is in the midst of a banner senior season, helping lead the Chargers to an 11-2 record and the Centennial League lead. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist and Charger point guard Marque Wilkerson are both quick to admit that their relationship was a bit rocky at times a year ago.
Wilerson was in and out of his coach's doghouse throughout his junior year but has used that experience to put together an MVP-type senior season while helping make the 11-2 Chargers one of the premier teams in the Centennial League and the Class 5A ranks.
“We had a love-hate relationship last year and right now I love him a lot,'' Bloomquist said. "He’s really played the system and he’s really adjusted. I don’t know if I should say this, but a lot of kids wouldn’t have adjusted to how I tried to make him adjust and would have walked away from me.
“In fact, I tried at one point and thank God he stayed. He had two choices. He had to play like I wanted him to play or he wasn’t going to play and I think he understands now because he’s having a lot of fun as well.’’
Wilkerson is currently averging 17.1 points for the Chargers, including a 25-point performance in Tuesday night's 63-46 home win over Washburn Rural that gave West sole possession of the league lead with a 8-1 record.
And while it wasn't pleasant at the time, Wilkerson knows the lessons he's learned from Bloomquist have helped him become the player he is today.
“I’m his point guard and he said I need to be an extension of him,'' Wilkerson said. "If I’m playing well it makes the team better.’’
Wilkerson said last year's season-ending loss to Blue Valley Southwest that deprived the Chargers of a 5A state tournament berth drove that point home.
“I’m grateful that he was on my butt a lot because once the season ended I started thinking a lot that night, 'Dang, I could have done this and this to get better,' '' Wilkerson said. "So once the summer went along I was like, 'I’ve got to play smart and play the way I’ve been taught all year long.’ It’s made me a better player.''
Obviously, there are still times that Wilkerson doesn't do everything the way his coach wants him to, but Bloomquist said the good plays out-weigh the bad by far.
"Every team should be able to have a player like Marque to experience how fun it is to watch him,'' Bloomquist said. "Now he does bonehead things because I think he wants me to coach him every once in a while.''
“He’s not going to let me do anything easy and it’s a blessing for real,'' Wilkerson said.
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