Kankakee Valley senior Cam Webster still can’t quite wrap his head around the achievement.
In the moment, when the 6-foot-4 guard set the program’s career scoring record, he was overcome with emotion.
“I just started crying,” Webster said.
Webster’s 26 points in the Kougars’ win against McCutcheon on Saturday, which also was senior night for them, increased his career total to 1,330. That number eclipsed the 1,328 points scored by 1977 graduate Rick Sytsma.
“We’re all extremely proud of him and extremely happy for him,” junior forward Brady Sampson said of Webster. “We’ve grown so much as a team this year. We love each other so much, and seeing him get that accomplishment was something great.”
Webster, a four-year starter, wasn’t even supposed to know he was nearing the mark that had stood for nearly five decades.
Kankakee Valley coach Bill Shepherd told Webster’s family last week after his parents had inquired about the record. Webster’s sister Kailee then “leaked” it, Shepherd said, informing Webster that he was 50 points away before the Kougars played Hanover Central on Friday.
Shepherd said Webster had started to “hunt” shots when he approached, and eclipsed, 1,000 career points in the third game of the season. Shepherd wanted to avoid a similar situation this time around.
“It was on purpose,” Shepherd said with a smile. “He didn’t know until last week, and the plan was for him not to know, period. But things don’t always go as planned.
“There have been a lot of good players who have come through here, in the 80s and 90s in particular. It’s just a testament to what he’s been able to do for four years, the consistency in those four years and his continuing maturation and his continuing to improve on years past.”
Kailee Webster, a 2020 graduate who was a volleyball standout and also played basketball, knew enough to “whisper” to Cam about his proximity to the record, he said.
Cam Webster said he jokingly talked about it with friends in middle school and thought about the possibility when he earned a starting spot as a freshman. It didn’t cross his mind as a sophomore or junior, but his interest was rekindled when he learned the details.
When Webster hit a free throw to set the record Saturday, the game was stopped to recognize the milestone.
“I wasn’t supposed to know until it happened, but it all worked out,” he said. “I never knew what it was, and I figured someone would tell me, but no one ever gave me an exact number. I was like, ‘There’s no reason to stress about it because I don’t know what it is. It could be a number that’s not even reachable.’ But when she told me it was 50 points, it was the best feeling.
“At least four games left counting the sectional, I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to get it. I’m not going to put pressure on it.’ But then when I got 25 against Hanover, I was like, ‘It would be so awesome to do it on senior night with my whole family there. That would be really cool.’ And it definitely was really cool.”
Webster is averaging 17.8 points, leading the team for the third straight season, along with 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and a team-high 2.2 steals as the Kougars (13-9) approach the postseason. They will close out the regular season at North Judson on Friday and then play Crown Point in the first round of the rugged Class 4A Chesterton Sectional on Feb. 28.
“He works hard every day in practice,” Sampson said. “He’s one of those guys who pushes us. He always comes ready to play. He has such a love for the game, and we see it every day. He takes it seriously, and he brings great energy to our team every day. He’s a spark. He can always get going at any time. He looks to get all his teammates involved. He’s a winner at heart.”
Webster has put together another outstanding season despite dealing with issues with both of his feet. Five games into the season, he sprained his left ankle during a practice on Dec. 13. He was advised to sit out the Kougars’ game against Andrean two days later. But Webster, who wound up scoring a season-low five points, had other ideas.
“I wasn’t supposed to play,” he said. “I had a boot and crutches. But it was a big conference game. I wanted to play, so I took it off, wrapped it a bunch and just played. I warmed up, I was limpy, but I tried to play through it.
“Pretty much all I could do was bring the ball up and get us into our stuff. It probably would’ve been smart to just not play. But I don’t regret it. I only have so many games my senior year, and I wanted to play as much as I could.”
He said his left ankle is “94%” healthy now.
Webster also experienced calluses and blisters on the top of his right foot, a problem he has had since eighth grade. But in back-to-back games against Hobart on Feb. 1 and LaPorte on Feb. 3, the discomfort peaked.
“It was burning really bad,” he said. “It was just so painful.”
Webster went to a podiatrist and had the affected area cut off. He said he played the next three games over four days from Feb. 6 to 9 with a circular “hole” in his foot about a “half-inch deep” before new skin grew back.
“Right after we got it cut off, it felt so good,” he said. “It felt amazing.”
Webster hasn’t looked back.
“Whenever he’s been healthy, he’s been very good,” Shepherd said. “He’s been consistent. He’s been relaxed. He’s very coachable. He’s grown so much in the four years I’ve had him. It’s amazing how much his mentality is different. Coaching him back then was criticism. Now it’s just coaching. He’s enjoying the ride.”
It took some time for Webster to reach that stage.
“He’s past the point where he thinks he has to prove stuff to people,” Shepherd said. “He still has his college choice left, and I know that weighs on him a little bit. But he’s past having to prove stuff to people. He just wants to play and have a good time.”
Webster agreed he’s in a favorable frame of mind.
“In the past, there would be some games where I’d be like, ‘If I have a poor performance, I have the next game,’” Webster said. “But this year, I go into every game like, ‘This is my last time ever playing this team. I have to have a good performance to go out on a good note.’ I just keep going and going. I’ve matured more and become more of a leader. I’ve gotten everyone else to work harder.”
Sampson said Webster has fun too.
“He’s a very loose guy,” Sampson said. “He has his moments when he’s serious. But he’s very fun-loving and very smart and a carefree individual. He plays for the love of the game and for the love of his teammates.”
Webster, who joined Kankakee Valley’s boys volleyball team last year as the Indiana High School Athletic Association designated it an emerging sport, intends to play basketball in college. But if a situation to his liking doesn’t materialize, he could attend prep school.
“That might be one of the best things for him,” Shepherd said. “He’s one of the younger kids in his grade. He could work on his game, get his schooling, then jump in at whatever level. He just loves basketball. He just wants to play. He’s keeping his options open.”
Shepherd is eager to keep Webster for as long as possible and is optimistic the Kougars are peaking at the right time.
“Cam’s just been a real joy to coach,” Shepherd said. “We’re going to miss him. You miss everybody, but somebody who’s started for you for four years, when next year comes around and his name’s not there, it’s going to be like, ‘Where is he?’
“I’m sure other coaches feel like he’s on the 10-year high school plan. It works both ways. But we’re definitely going to miss him. We just hope he looks back with all of the fondness and joy that we do on our end.”
