HITTING 1,000 — Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain center Adam Heckman (41) banks home a basket for the 1,000th point of his prep career against Nicollet last Friday night in Truman. The Jaguar junior post player also has garnered more than 500 rebounds during his high school playing days. (Photo courtesy of Susan Petrowiak)

TRUMAN — Like his favorite NBA player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adam Heckman has been a beast both scoring and pulling down rebounds for the Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Jaguars.

The 6-foot-6 junior reached 1,000 career points against Nicollet on Friday in Truman. Along with his century-scoring mark, the center also has pulled down more than 500 rebounds on his career.

“Somebody needs to get them,” Heckman said about his motivation to grab basketball caroms.

After scoring his 1,000th career point off an assist from brother and long-time teammate Matt Heckman, there was a pause in the game as Adam was presented with a special-made basketball signed by his teammates and coaches.

Jaguar head coach Adam Walker said Adam Heckman would stay stoic whether he hits a free throw in practice or a game-winner in the playoffs, and that came through after scoring his momentous point.

“It’s cool because not too many people get to do it, but it’s just another point,” Heckman said of hitting the milestone.

Walker said it was clear Heckman would play a key role for the Jaguars as soon as he joined the program as a freshman. Walker said it only took one game Heckman’s freshman year for Walker to realize he should be in the starting lineup.

“He doesn’t say a lot, but he proves a lot,” Walker said. “… He’s been our go-to guy since he was a ninth grader, and he’s only a junior. … He could set the program scoring record, as a Jaguar, next year if he keeps at it, and obviously stays healthy. He’s been our leader the last couple years for sure.

“Now he’s finding out that teams are gunning for him, they’re double-teaming, and they’re triple-teaming him at times and he’s still finding ways to get through that. And he never, never complains about it. If he has a rough game, which he rarely has, he never complains. He just gets back at it and moves on. That’s why he’s special because he’s such a level-headed kid.”

Heckman’s level-headed attitude has helped lead the Jaguars to a 10-4 record this season, and a 19-9 overall record in the 2019-20 season with an appearance in the second round of the Section 2A tournament.

As a junior, Heckman already ranks fourth all-time for the Jaguars (since the three schools consolidated) in scoring, as well as fourth in rebounds and first in blocks.

On his career, Heckman has made 362 of 547 shots for 66 percent, to total 1,025 points and has wracked up 546 boards. He currently sits only 58 points shy of second all-time for the Jaguars, and 473 behind first-place Zayne Engel. Engel also holds the career rebound record for the Jaguars, with Heckman 219 behind.

Heckman’s 153 career blocks puts him atop the team leaderboard.

In 14 games this season, Heckman has scored 237 points for an average of 16.9 per game, while bringing down 143 rebounds for just over 10 a game, giving him a double-double average.

Heckman said he has played basketball with brothers Matt and Cale his entire life, which has helped develop his love of the sport. Walker said always having other players his size to battle against outside of practice has helped Heckman become a better player.

Walker said there are rarely times you won’t find the Heckman brothers in the gym.

“He just works hard all summer long,” Walker said. “He’s in the gym, whether he’s playing AAU or coming to my workouts, or coming to team practices or our league games. Obviously, last summer was different because of COVID, but he’s always in the gym when he can and he’s always working on his game.

” … He’s easy to work with because he listens and knows what I expect of him and, and knows what, what it takes to get to that level.”

As teams have begun focusing their respective defenses more on Heckman, Walker said the Jaguars have been forced to find new ways to use his abilities on the court.

Walker said Heckman is an unselfish player, so drawing double or triple teams has only given him more opportunities for assists and getting his teammates open, while the Jaguar offense has spent time trying to get him open outside of the paint as well.

Walker said for his senior season, Heckman will likely see even more defensive pressure, but the coach isn’t worried.

“He’s really a special player,” Walker said. “He’s a guy that, since junior high when I heard about him, and knew that there was a big kid coming up, he has not disappointed. He’s been everything that everybody expected him to be and he will keep it going, hopefully. When he’s in the game, you’re gonna have a lot of success, that’s for sure.”