BLANCHARDVILLE - Pecatonica senior A.J. Hendrickson is the newest member in the prestigious 2,000-career-point club.
Hendrickson reached the 2,000-point career milestone in a game Feb. 3 where he scored 26 points to lead the Vikings to a 66-50 win over Highland. According to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, Hendrickson is just the 29th player in the history of boys basketball in the state to reach the 2,000-point mark. He is now 28th in the state with 2,026 points.
"It's incredible," Hendrickson said. "I never thought that would happen. I just wanted to reach 1,000 points when I started out and now I'm at 2,000."
Wausaukee's Anthony Pieper is the boys all-time leading career scorer with 3,391 points. Two other former area players are on the list including Argyle's Travis Tuttle (2,322 points) and Monticello's Jim Zweifel (2,303 points).
Hendrickson, who is averaging 24.3 points per game and is the two-time Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year, will be honored before Pecatonica's home game Tuesday against Albany. He is a four-year starter for the Vikings and was named all-state last year.
"It's pretty crazy when you think about it and put it into context," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "It says a lot about A.J. to stay healthy and be a prolific scorer. A lot of things have to go right for it to happen. It's been a pretty special four years."
Hendrickson said he understands he wouldn't be where he is at as an all-time scorer if it wasn't for his teammates and some of the top teams he has played on.
"I give all the credit to them," he said. "I just couldn't do it by myself. I have had them setting up plays for me and getting me the ball. I wouldn't be in this position without them."
If Pecatonica (15-4) beats Albany on Tuesday, the Vikings would then host Barneveld on Friday and with a win could earn a share of the Six Rivers East Conference championship.
"We knew coming into the season Barneveld would be a great team and they along with Black Hawk would be up at the top with us," he said.
When Hendrickson isn't playing basketball or studying, he said, his hobbies are coyote hunting and officiating youth basketball games.
"I like being outdoors," Hendrickson said. 'I just don't want to sit around all day. I want to be active and outside."
When the season is over, Hendrickson will continue to work because he will move on and play basketball at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa next season.
Clarke University plays at the NAIA Division I level.
Hendrickson views Clarke University as the perfect fit with coach Jim Blaine, the former Benton boys basketball coach. Blaine coached at Benton for 14 years and spent four years as the Southwestern boys basketball coach.
"Everyone there is so happy," he said. "You can't walk through the hallway without five people saying 'hi' to you."
Hendrickson reached the 2,000-point career milestone in a game Feb. 3 where he scored 26 points to lead the Vikings to a 66-50 win over Highland. According to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, Hendrickson is just the 29th player in the history of boys basketball in the state to reach the 2,000-point mark. He is now 28th in the state with 2,026 points.
"It's incredible," Hendrickson said. "I never thought that would happen. I just wanted to reach 1,000 points when I started out and now I'm at 2,000."
Wausaukee's Anthony Pieper is the boys all-time leading career scorer with 3,391 points. Two other former area players are on the list including Argyle's Travis Tuttle (2,322 points) and Monticello's Jim Zweifel (2,303 points).
Hendrickson, who is averaging 24.3 points per game and is the two-time Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year, will be honored before Pecatonica's home game Tuesday against Albany. He is a four-year starter for the Vikings and was named all-state last year.
"It's pretty crazy when you think about it and put it into context," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "It says a lot about A.J. to stay healthy and be a prolific scorer. A lot of things have to go right for it to happen. It's been a pretty special four years."
Hendrickson said he understands he wouldn't be where he is at as an all-time scorer if it wasn't for his teammates and some of the top teams he has played on.
"I give all the credit to them," he said. "I just couldn't do it by myself. I have had them setting up plays for me and getting me the ball. I wouldn't be in this position without them."
If Pecatonica (15-4) beats Albany on Tuesday, the Vikings would then host Barneveld on Friday and with a win could earn a share of the Six Rivers East Conference championship.
"We knew coming into the season Barneveld would be a great team and they along with Black Hawk would be up at the top with us," he said.
When Hendrickson isn't playing basketball or studying, he said, his hobbies are coyote hunting and officiating youth basketball games.
"I like being outdoors," Hendrickson said. 'I just don't want to sit around all day. I want to be active and outside."
When the season is over, Hendrickson will continue to work because he will move on and play basketball at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa next season.
Clarke University plays at the NAIA Division I level.
Hendrickson views Clarke University as the perfect fit with coach Jim Blaine, the former Benton boys basketball coach. Blaine coached at Benton for 14 years and spent four years as the Southwestern boys basketball coach.
"Everyone there is so happy," he said. "You can't walk through the hallway without five people saying 'hi' to you."
