Welch gets final chance to shine at Bloomington Central Catholic before heading to Millikin
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (BVM) — JT Welch has been playing basketball all his life. But one of the seasons he was looking forward to most in his career nearly didn’t happen.
After spring sports were halted in the state of Illinois last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Welch had no idea that it would carry all the way over to this winter. He was determined to get back out on the floor after a loss in regionals by his Bloomington Central Catholic High School team, and used the beginning of the pandemic to work on his body and game.
“After last season ended, I was extremely motivated,” Welch said. “I think we could have easily won that regional championship and it kept me up at night knowing we didn’t get the job done. During the quarantine, I improved my body and was getting after it hard in the weight room.”
Welch continued to workout throughout the spring and summer, and got in a partial season with his AAU club, Midwest Prospect Academy. But it was after that season when reality began to set in for the Central Catholic senior.
“We got past that, and that’s when it really started to hit me,” Welch continued. “There was no football or volleyball and I thought this thing might not get better by the time the winter comes. That’s when I started really doubting and it started to get a little scary. I truly felt once the new year rolled around and there was nothing new, we weren’t going to play.”
All Welch could do was try to keep faith and take things one day at a time.
“I just tried to stay positive through it all and just learned to take it day by day because it seemed like things were constantly changing,” he added. “I just kept praying on it and having hope.”
Although it seemed as if he may never take the floor for Catholic Central again all the way into January, by the end of the month, Welch finally found out he would have a season after all.
“Eventually they told us we would be able to play, and that was awesome for sure.”
While the 2021 high school basketball season is condensed from what it normally would be and will not end with a usual state championship, many players, including Welch, are just thrilled to be able to play.
“It’s an honor to be able to play again and be out there competing with my best friends,” Welch said. “It means the world to me and I’m so glad.”
Playing three to four games per week as the Saints try to schedule as many as they can get in, Welch is starring on the hardwood again, which he has done ever since he can remember.
Welch’s father, Jason, has been coaching basketball ever since his son was born. Being around the sport forever, JT has developed an unmatched passion for the game.
The point guard had many players to look up to that his dad coached when he was younger. One who stands out is Nick Norton, who went on to play college basketball at UAB and Drake, and now plays in the NBA G League with the South Bay Lakers.
Norton is a smaller player than a lot of his competition at just 5-foot-10, similar to JT who is just an inch shorter at 5-foot-9. But size is something that has never mattered to JT. Instead, he relishes what he is able to do on the court often against bigger opponents.
“I can’t control my height and I’ve known since middle school that I wasn’t going to be the biggest guy,” JT said. “I’ve definitely taken pride in that and my dad has always told me it’s all about the heart and not just about the height. I’ve been counted out a lot because of my size but I’ve always used that as motivation.”
JT played junior high basketball at Epiphany Catholic School, and also played AAU ball with Twin City Thunder. In seventh grade, he helped Epiphany to a state championship. In the state title game, JT recorded a double-double, and also set the championship game record for assists. By that point, he knew basketball was a sport he might have a bright future in.
Once he reached Bloomington Central Catholic High School, JT was poised to keep improving. Although he played JV as a freshman, he had the opportunity to practice every day against the varsity players. While tough at times, it’s something he credits significantly for his development.
“I was 14 years old my freshman year and it was tough going up against 18-year-olds every day at practice,” JT said. “I’m not going to lie, it had me down at times and thinking what if this isn’t for me. But it was definitely a learning experience and that was big for me.”
The Saints’ varsity squad would finish third at state that season. Meanwhile, JT had knee surgery that kept him out for the second half of his freshman year.
But it was JT’s sophomore year where he further realized his potential. With a couple players who now play collegiately at Illinois Wesleyan, the Saints fielded another strong team. JT developed into his role of a shooter and strong defender throughout the season, starting nearly every game.
“My sophomore year, we had a really good team,” JT said. “For me, I adjusted to my role and embraced it. It was definitely another learning experience and it gave me a different perspective.”
JT led the area in three-point field goals made that season as the Saints would lose in the sectional round. He was also named an all-conference and all-area player.
In his junior season, JT was back at his natural position of point guard. With a younger team, the Saints struggled early on, but were led by JT who averaged 14 points and seven assists per game. Once again, the 17-year-old was named an all-conference and all-area member.
Now, as he plays his condensed senior season, JT aims to leave it all on the floor one last time for Central Catholic.
“One of our goals is definitely to win our conference and that’s one of the things we can win this year,” JT said. “For me personally, being all-state, all-conference and all-area would be great. A big goal for me too is to just look back at it with no regrets and be able to look back at it four years from now and realize we didn’t have a normal or full year, but I still worked as hard as I could.”
The senior is also closing in on reaching the 1,000-point scoring mark, something he hopes to accomplish within the next few games.
“I’m closing in pretty close and I think when I get there that’s a huge, huge honor,” JT added. “It’ll put my name in the Central Catholic history books forever and will put me in with some of the greatest Central Catholic basketball names ever.”
The remaining month or so of the basketball season will also be JT’s last time playing for his dad, who he notes has always pushed him to become the best player he can be.
“Being a coach’s son, there are some tough things and I would say my dad pushes me a little harder than everybody else,” JT mentioned. “When I was younger and less mature, I may not have liked it as much. But looking at it now, I’m glad he got on me hard throughout the years because it made me a lot better. He pushes me because he cares.”
One challenge of having a father as a coach is keeping the on-floor and off-floor relationships separate, which JT also believes they have done a good job with.
“Whenever we’re at practice or the games he’s my coach and I’m his player,” JT added. “Once we get back home he’s my dad again. I think we’ve really both adapted to that well and have done a great job balancing that.”
As a long-time coach, Jason has also had some impressive career achievements, including earning his 300th win last season. JT will always cherish being able to be part of those moments with his father, and has enjoyed his overall experience the past few years.
“It’s been really fun having him as my coach. We share in the bad moments and we cherish the good ones. It was fun to be a part of those wins with him and seeing him get his 300th win last year.”
Once the season concludes, it will be time for JT to begin his next venture: playing for the Millikin University Big Blue.
#COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/5x3ZB1I3fk
— JT Welch (@jtwe1ch) January 8, 2021
The 17-year-old began receiving college interest last year, taking many visits and receiving multiple offers. Specifically, he was also looking at Judson University, Illinois Wesleyan, Carthage College and Loras College.
But after falling in love with the coaches, players and facilities at Millikin, JT was sold. The senior is eager to get started with the Big Blue, and is excited to join the young core of players they are developing.
Of course, what JT has accomplished at Central Catholic will not be forgotten, and he hopes he has set the model for those behind them.
“It’s a hard-working program and a winning program,” he noted. “The legacy I want to leave is just about hard work and winning. It’s not about the pretty stuff. Whenever you come to practice you’re there to work hard and whenever you play we’re going to do it with class and do it the right way. My dad has done a lot of work to make the culture around here really good and I just hope I’ve passed along the torch to the younger guys on this team.”
The future for JT is also bright. Whether it’s playing overseas, coaching or being a trainer, the basketball standout always wants to be involved with the sport. But for now, he is focused on taking Millikin to new heights.
“Coach Scherer and Coach Sodie are my guys,” JT said. “They recruited me super hard and built a great relationship with my family and I. I also know they both really believe in me not only as a player but as a person. They are great people and I’m super excited to work with those two the next four years at Millikin and make Millikin basketball great.”
