On February 26, 2024, going against the Princeton Tigers, senior power forward Caleb Schoenrock broke the Saint Francis High School’s single season rebounding record with one game left in the basketball season.
This past school record was set in 1979 by Craig Jerde with 321 rebounds. Shoenrock broke that record with 372 rebounds. He also averaged 16.9 points per game while shooting 55.7% from the floor. Shoenrock’s rebounding ability attracted the attention of nearly every team the Saints played this winter.
“I feel he’s the best in the nation, no one can guard him, ” says longtime teammate Nate Kuzina. Kuzina has been guarding Schoenrock since kindergarten; when they first became teammates.
One of the best rebounding players in NBA basketball history was Dennis Rodman; he averaged 13.1 rebounds per game. For someone to average 14.3 rebounds a game at any level is certainly an accomplishment. Not having to worry about your opponent getting second chance points and giving your own team another 20 seconds on the shot clock for another offensive possession. As basketball enthusiasts know, one possession can be the difference in a win and a loss. The average score differential of a college basketball game is 4.7 points according to Gitnux; a statistics website. Rebounding the ball more than your opponent gives you more possessions, more possessions equal more opportunities to score.
Caleb during the summer trained five days a week at Verve Basketball academy. During this time he would still come to the high school basketball camps whether it was for youth or with the rest of his high school teammates. Assistant basketball coach, Matt Norton, has given Schoenrock high praise for this.
“[Caleb] is one of the hardest working guys we have had in a very very long time.” Norton said.
Caleb has his sights set on being a preferred walk on for the hometown team this upcoming season. He has a practice spot secured for the Minnesota Gophers but is working towards making the highly competitive 15 person roster next fall.
“It was really fun just knowing, in the back of my mind, after I got that ninth rebound that I am forever cementing myself in the records of Saint Francis,” Shoenrock said.
