Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
It took some time, but after learning at the Athletic Banquet in May that he earned more than 1,000 points in his four-year basketball career at Pocahontas County High School, 2016 grad J.D. Hensler finally has the ball to prove it.
Last week, Hensler and basketball coach Tim McClung met at PCHS for the official presentation of the 1,000 point ball.
“I really wasn’t expecting it,” Hensler said of his record. “As far as I knew, I was thirty points short and when I walked into the banquet, I saw the sign that had my name on it. It said I had broken a record. It was shocking. A lot of hard work payed off. It was nice.”
After four years of gaining a respect for basketball, Hensler has signed to play at the Port City Sports Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.
“I’m going to a prep-school in Charleston, South Carolina, to play basketball,” he said. “I didn’t really take basketball seriously until right after my freshman year, and I just really got into the game. I really love basketball. I like how I can play by myself and make myself better and my team better at the same time. I really enjoy the game.”
Hensler plans to improve his game in prep school for a year, then pursue scholarships to attend college.
“I’ll hopefully get a scholarship somewhere else and then after this year, I’ll go to college,” he said. “I’d like to play all four years in college. Hopefully I can do that and balance academics.”
Hensler hopes to return to a college in West Virginia, but isn’t against going out-of-state if the opportunity arises. He plans to pursue a degree in either physical therapy or criminal justice.
Hensler is the son of David Hensler, of Front Royal, Virginia, and Jeanette Wagner, of Marlinton.
Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com