If you’ve ever checked out a basketball game at Chestermere High School, you’ve probably noticed Jeff Rodehutskors. Possibly because he stands at an impressive 6 ft. 8 in. tall, but likely for his tremendous skill – which is exactly why Dino’s have come calling.
On February 16th, 2016, University of Calgary men’s basketball coach Dan Vanhooren announced the commitment of two players to the Dinos for the 2016-17 season.
The Dinos will welcome six-foot-eight forward Jeff Rodehutskors out of Chestermere, Alberta along with six-foot-three guard Maximilian Eisele from Ulm, Germany next season.
Chestermere High School’s own Jeff Rodehutskors is widely regarded as one of the top recruits in Western Canada, and he elected to join the Dinos after receiving multiple offers – and he will carry on a family tradition in red and gold.
The six-foot-eight forward is the son of the late Steve Rodehutskors, a two-sport star in CIS who went on to have an eight-year career in the Canadian Football League. The elder Rodehutskors had not played organized football before joining the Dinos in 1984 and quickly became a key cog on the Calgary offensive line, starting on the team that won the Vanier Cup in 1985. He previously played basketball for the University of Lethbridge, appearing in the national championship tournament with the Pronghorns in 1984.
His son Jeff has been the MVP for the highly-touted Chestermere Lakers, who are currently ranked No. 2 among 3A schools in the province. He helped the Lakers capture the provincial title in Grade 10, adding a bronze medal last season. His Lakers are currently 5-0 in league play, sitting first in the Rocky View Sports Association.
Long, athletic, and with impressive basketball skills, Rodehutskors is a defensive nightmare for the opposition, and has the numbers to prove it: at the St. Mary’s tournament in Calgary last month, Rodehutskors averaged 32 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists.
He will add size and skill down low for the Dinos, helping to fill the void left by the impending graduation of Matt Letkeman. He plans to enroll in the Haskayne School of Business.
Rodehutskors says, “It’s going to be great having my family, coaches, and friends be able to come to home games. The Dinos are playing so well right now and have so many young players, and Coach Dan is someone I’ve been talking to since the ninth grade. We have built a great relationship, and he has taken the time and showed his commitment to me.”
Dinos coach, Dan Vanhooren commented, “Jeff is the type of player that is highly-pursued by any university. He is a high-quality student, an excellent individual, and a six-foot-eight athlete. Jeff brings the ability to expand his game beyond just post play and into a more well-rounded basketball player. He will be an extraordinary asset to our program.”
The Dinos have clinched first place in Canada West’s Pioneer Division and will enjoy home court advantage throughout the conference playoffs. Calgary hosts a best-of-three conference quarterfinal series March 4-6 in the Jack Simpson Gym and, if successful in that, will welcome the Canada West Final Four March 11-12.
