Joppru joins 1,000-Point Club

Thief River Falls boys high school basketball 1,000-Point Club added a new member Friday when 6-1 senior guard Jacob Joppru joined the ranks with a 26-point game in the Prowlers’ 69-37 home court win over East Grand Forks that boosted his on-going career total to 1,001.

 

He is the seventh name on the list and the second player to reach that milestone in the past two years.

 

Jacob Leier, Joppru’s backcourt mate last winter, graduated with 1,059 points.

 

Six Thief River Falls girls have also topped the 1,000-point mark during their high school basketball careers.

 

Joppru went into the match-up against the Green Wave needing 25 points to crack the 1,000 mark. He accomplished the feat by hitting a field goal with 5:46 remaining in the game.

 

Play was stopped briefly when news of his accomplishment was announced to the audience. As the crowd applauded, Joppru received handshakes and hugs from his teammates and coaches. At the final horn he was given the game ball to mark the occasion.

 

Thief River Falls coach Joe Wasfaret said Joppru is very deserving of the recognition. “He is one of the best players I’ve coached at the college or high school level – him and Jake Leier,” offered Wasfaret, who is in his third year with the Prowlers.

 

While scoring is a big part of Joppru’s game, it isn’t what defines him as a player, according to Wasfaret, who said: “He is the hardest working kid you will find. He’s a great teammate and a great leader. He could take more shots, but he dishes the ball off and makes sure his teammates get involved in the game.”

 

Wasfaret didn’t limit the accolades to Joppru’s game-time performances. “He’s a super-good kid,” he said. “He’s not only a good basketball player, he’s a great person.”