Genesis Prep's Hillman grows on, off court

Normally quick with a thoughtful reply, Genesis Prep boys basketball coach Marsell Colbert paused for several seconds as he pondered a reporter’s inquiry the other night.

Colbert was asked to sum up what Jonny Hillman, the Jaguars’ star senior guard, has meant to the program over the past four seasons.

The coach looked off in the distance as he thought about it.

Finally, when he spoke, he got a little misty-eyed.

“A lot,” Colbert said, eventually. “A lot.

“And its more than the basketball thing,” he continued. “It’s his leadership off the floor, in the classroom ... he has been a key component in us winning off the court, which is most important to me, in the community, and in the classroom. He’s a leader. I’m happy that I get three more games with him.

He’s been amazing, man. He’s had an amazing career.”

OF COURSE, some 30 minutes earlier, the thought of Colbert enjoying three more games of coaching Jonny Hillman was in big-time doubt. In the third quarter of Genesis Prep’s 1A Division II District 1 title game against Lakeside, Hillman was lying on his back on the floor near midcourt, fearing either a dislocation, or a torn ACL in his right knee.

Hillman admitted he thought of his oldest brother Michael, who suffered a devastating knee injury while playing at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

Eventually, Jonny’s father, David, a physical therapist, popped the leg back into the place, and Jonny returned to the court in the fourth quarter, seemingly none the worse for wear.

This week, Hillman will and the Jaguars (15-8) will try to win their third straight state title, starting today against Salmon River (21-5) of Riggins at 5:15 p.m. at Caldwell High.

“It’s a lot of growth, on an off the court, as a family, with the coaches and the players,” said the 6-foot-2 Hillman, summing up his four seasons on the varisty. “Every year has been a little big different. Freshman year, learning how to adapt to older players, and sophomore year, learning how to take a little bit of a leadership role, while still being respectful of the older players. Junior year, we had a lot of good players around us ... this year, having a lot of new players come in, learning how to bring them in and get them surrounded by our culture of family, and learning on how to be a positive leader to them, and just coming together.”

AS A freshman, Hillman teamed with senior post Caleb Symons to lead Genesis Prep to a third-place finish at state. It was the Jaguars’ first trip to state, in the first season their program was sanctioned by the Idaho High School Activities Association.

The next season, surrounded by a strong group of talented juniors, Genesis Prep won its first state title, and Hillman was named Player of the Year in 1A Division II.

Last year, with those talented juniors now seniors, the Jaguars successfully defended their state title.

“My freshman year I was known as a shooter,” Hillman said. “My sophomore year I learned how to develop more attack moves, but I was still pretty slow. So between my sophomore year and junior year I really worked on my agility, that quickness and speed ... ”

“Every year we challenged him to get better in another area of his game, and every year he’s worked on it, and he’s improved in all facets of the game,” Colbert said. “As a freshman, he was allergic to playing defense, but he’s a really good defender nowadays. That’s big, man.”

HILLMAN EVENTUALLY overcame that “allergy,” became a more well-rounded player, and last fall signed a letter of intent to play at NAIA Carroll College in Helena, Mont. — in part because the school resembled the family atmosphere he has experience at Genesis Prep.

He hopes to one day become a financial adviser.

Fans have witnessed Hillman’s evolution as a basketball player the past four years. He’s just as proud of his growth as a person.

For the first part of his career at Genesis Prep, Hillman was the mop-topped guard who could let it fly at any point after crossing halfcourt.

Now, his hair is neatly trimmed, matching his game — as a player and as a leader.

When he was asked about the biggest growth he’s made the last four years, he first spoke of his growth as a person.

“Just my leadership abilities, learning how to do that in a positive way,” Hillman said. “Lift them up instead of tear ’em down.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.