LEBANON — Jon Willeman remembers a time when he didn’t want to play football or basketball. It’s hard to believe, but when he was in kindergarten neither really seemed that interesting. He admits one of the contributing reasons was because he just wasn’t good.
But, one summer during elementary school, it all seemed to click. Willeman remembered spending summer vacation playing basketball in his backyard, and with that came some football skills.
Now, as a senior at Lebanon High, his life revolves around the two sports.
He led the Raiders to a NHIAA Division III championship football game berth and threw for more than 20 touchdowns on the this past fall.
Willeman is averaging 18.9 points per game on the hardwood this winter. On Friday night, he paced the Raiders with 15 points as Lebanon dispatched Bishop Brady, 48-36, at Lang Metcalf Gym. The Raiders have won three consecutive games.
“I love basketball. I love football, too” Willeman said.
The Raiders held a 14-12 lead after the first quarter, but Willeman only had two points. By halftime, Lebanon (6-2 overall, 4-1 NHIAA) had forged a 31-15 lead, holding the visitors to three second-quarter points.
Willeman played a large part of the Raiders outscoring of Bishop Brady, 17-3, in the quarter. He hit a deep jumper then knocked down a 3-pointer at to the top left of the key. With 57 seconds to play until the break, he grabbed a pass on the run and finished with a powerful right-handed layup.
When it was all said and done, Willeman scored 10 points in the quarter to ultimately put the game out of the Green Giants’ reach.
In the first half, the guard stepped off the court for roughly 90 seconds before Lebanon coach Kieth Matte put him back in. Willeman is too important toward what Lebanon is trying to do to keep him off long.
Defenses must pay attention to him from beyond the arc, but his knowledge of the offense allows him to take over point guard duties when needed. Oh, and his length lends to strong defensive play.
“Jon’s a special athlete where,” Matte said. “Who knows where his ceiling is, because he plays football in the fall, he plays basketball in the winter. He’s never focused on one sports. He has a high ceiling.”
Willeman has had his share of state title game experiences.
November’s NHIAA Division III football final didn’t go his way; he threw three interceptions in Lebanon’s 28-21 loss to Trinity at the University of New Hampshire.
In 2017, however, he had a front-row seat to Lebanon’s 59-42 victory over Coe-Brown in the D-II boys basketball championship.
While Willeman still remembers the celebration — he said he scored roughly six points that season — he wants to make his own memories of celebrating a state title.
The Lebanon basketball roster this winter is filled with players who want to leave their own mark. Most played at UNH in November or fell in the 1-0 D-II boys soccer state final to ConVal.
“I mean, it would have been nice to win football for sure,” Willeman said. “Even if we’ve won, I’m still wanting to win basketball, so nothing’s changed.”
His favorite class in school right now? Statistics.
No, he isn’t a math nerd, something he was quick to point out.
While he’s not sure where his college destination will be just yet, he knows he wants to major in business. Along with that, Willeman is hoping to play basketball at the next level; he mentioned both Gordon College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have shown interest.
For now, however, the focus will be strictly on this basketball season. He is hoping the output will bring him the elusive state championship that he and Lebanon’s eight-player senior class can truly put their mark on.
Notes: The Raiders didn’t allow a Bishop Brady basket in the third quarter and led, 40-15, going into the fourth. Most of Lebanon’s starting five, Willeman included, didn’t touch the floor in the final period. … The two teams combined for 42 fouls. … Karsten Hansen scored 10 points and Wade Rainey added nine for Lebnaon. … Willeman scored a season-high 33 points in a 71-57 win over Manchester West on Dec. 28. … Both Braeden and Logan Falzarano are out with injuries. Matte didn’t have a timetable established on the two’s return yet. … Lebanon is off until Friday, when it visits Merrimack Valley. The big matchup on the calendar will be on Feb. 10 when the Raiders host archrival Hanover.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.