By LARRY VAUGHT
When Jake Feldhaus of Madison Central was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball it was not a surprise to his father, Deron Feldhaus, a former University of Kentucky player.
“I was pretty confident. I studied the other players,” said Deron Feldhaus, who was one of “The Unforgettables” under Rick Pitino at UK. “(Madison Central coach) Allen (Feldhaus) does a great job of scheduling. They played a lot of top teams and he played his best games against the best competition.
“He only averaged about 12 shots per game but averaged over 20 points (20.7) per game because he gets fouled a lot. He’s also a great facilitator and just knows how to help a team win.”
Madison Central finished 30-4 and the 6-foot-8 Feldhaus had 30 double-doubles. He averaged 13 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. He shot 57 percent from the field and had 27 3-point goals.
‘I have never seen a kid grow into a basketball player like has since he transferred to play for Allen,” Deron Feldhaus said. “He really improved as a player.”
Jake Feldhaus played two years at Mason County where his father played and grandfather coached before transferring to Madison Central to play for Allen Feldhaus, his father’s brother.
“Growing up in Mason County he lived on the golf course,” Deron Feldhaus said. “He played basketball but never really had a love for basketball. I tried to help coach and push him a little big his freshman and sophomore years but I knew he would never fully develop into the basketball player here that he could be.”
Fortunately, Deron Feldhaus’ wife has a job where “she can work from anywhere” so she moved to Richmond with Jake and Deron Feldhaus would “burn up the roads to Richmond” since he owns and manages a golf course in Mason County.
“Then it was instead of uncle Al taking him out for milkshakes they had a rough first two or three weeks with Allen really pushing him. His game changed his junior year when he played against (current UK freshman) Malachi Moreno and had 29 points,” Deron Feldhaus said. “That was the turning point that made him realize he could play.
“He still has the body to put on weight and that is big going into college. He is not scared of contact. He can rebound. He is built for basketball. He is much longer than me and his reach is eight to 10 inches more than mine.”
Jake Feldhaus also was named the Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year like his father was in 1987. However, Deron Feldhaus was not Mr. Basketball as his future UK teammate, John Pelphrey of Paintsville, won that award.
The Madison Central senior signed with Belmont in November but last week asked for his release so he could explore his options after coach Casey Alexander left for Kansas State and Duke assistant Evan Bradds was named new coach March 19.
“He just wanted to keep his options open until he has a chance to meet and get to know coach Bradds,” Allen Feldhaus said.
Deron Feldhaus was disappointed Madison Central lost in the 11th Region Tournament semifinals and his son missed getting to play in the state tournament in Rupp Arena where Deron played. He’s also disappointed Kentucky never showed any interest in recruiting his son.
“I don’t understand it but times have changed so much. Kentucky kids dream of playing for Kentucky. Maybe his bloodlines were holding him back since his Papaw and dad both played there,” Deron Feldhaus said. “He only played AAU one year and he was on a great team but if you are not ranked in the top 50 or 75 high school players teams don’t recruit you. I have a problem with that.”
Allen Feldhaus considers his nephew a Power Four player who slipped through the recruiting rankings since he had never played AAU basketball until last year because of golf. When he did play AAU last year his team included McDonald’s All-American Anthony Thompson, an Ohio State signee, and Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year Luke Ertle, a Purdue signee.
“He weighs 220 (pounds) and can be 230 by fall. His basketball IQ at the time we got him was not great. We knew he had the body to be a good player. He led the team in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore at Mason County but we do things differently here,” Allen Feldhaus said. “I think Jake realized there are not many 6-foot-8 golfers on the PGA Tour and he started putting his time into basketball. It capped off a great season and career for him to get Mr. Basketball.”
It was like a Feldhaus family reunion at the Mr. Basketball ceremony in Lexington. Allen Feldhaus had his wife and three daughters there. His brother, Willie, along with his wife and two daughters were there. Jake’s parents and grandparents obviously attended along with a lot of friends.
“It was very emotional. I don’t know who cried more, Deron or myself,” the Madison Central coach said. “It was a load lifted off my shoulders that he did win. When your name is Feldhaus, the expectations are very high. There was a lot of pressure on him but he handled it great. That’s why I was so emotional.”
Morehead State women’s head coach Ashton Feldhaus, Jake’s cousin and Allen’s daughter, said her father was “sobbing” when the winner was announced.
“I have only seen him cry like that two other times — when he won the state tournament and at Papaw’s funeral,” Ashton Feldhaus said.
The former Madison Central/Kentucky all-star player said the Mr. Basketball award had a deeper meaning for her family.
“Seeing my dad there as his coach but an uncle too, and getting emotional in that moment really showed what it meant to our family,” Ashton Feldhaus said. “Basketball has always been a huge part of the Feldhaus family, but moments like that, where we are all together. That’s what makes it so special. It was a full circle moment for everyone. I know my Papaw Allen was smiling down so big.”
