This year’s basketball season proved to be a success after PV beat the number one seeded team in the state quarter-finals. They went on to the semifinals where they put up a good fight against the now state champions, losing to West Des Moines Valley, 58-51. As the players gave it their all this season, one junior’s name stands out from the crowd: Caden Rubel.
Rubel started playing basketball when he was a kid. He recalls watching college basketball, instantly falling in love with the sport. His older brother, Bryce Rubel, also spent his high school sports career playing for the Spartans and Rubel’s father played when he was younger. So, for Rubel, basketball has been a family sport since before he was born.
Like for any sport, being physically fit and mentally tough are the keys to performing well. “I maintain my skills and body by constantly going to the gym and putting in the work even when I don’t feel like it. I am constantly shooting and working on my craft so that I have confidence to back up my game,” Rubel commented.
Assistant Coach Brett Ahlgren notes how Rubel improved as a player. “Caden is an extremely hard worker. He is a very focused athlete that is always looking for another opportunity to get better. During games this year he was steady for us and made big plays in big moments. The two that come to mind right away were his game-winner vs. North Scott and having a huge first quarter vs. Kennedy set the tone for the game. Producing like that is a major credit to the work he put in,” he said.
Rubel decided to put in the work, and since then, he has become a well tailored athlete. In the 4A state quarter-final game against the #1 seeded and undefeated Kennedy Cougars, Rubel set a career point high. He put up 23 of the Spartan’s 57 total points. Rubel went 7 for 11 of his total 2-point field goals and 4 for 8 of his total 3-point field goals, making his completion percentage from outside the paint an exact 50%. The Spartans defeated the Cougars, 57-45.
“He was a great teammate and he was always the best shooter in the gym,” junior Coy Kipper commented about Rubel. “It was really fun playing with him and watching him knock down a lot of shots for us.”
The 2022-2023 basketball season was Rubel’s first season playing in the starting lineup. And he didn’t disappoint. Rubel carried some of the most caliber seen on the team this year.
Rubel had the second most points on the team with a total of 244 points, almost quadrupling his brother’s junior season total of 63 points. He also had the highest number of 3-point shot attempts on the team, yet still having the highest completion percentage (38.9%). He made 61 of the total 157 three-pointer attempts. Those 61 completions placed him at #5 in the entire state and #1 in the Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC) for three pointers made. Rubel also placed third for free throw completion percentage (80.6%) in the MAC.
Senior Connor Borbeck, the only player to top Caden’s 244 season point total, outlines Caden’s effectiveness as a teammate and player. “Caden was a big time player for us as he continued to outperform expectations every night,” Borbeck said. “It was great knowing I had a teammate who could do it all on both sides of the court.”
Rubel has recently gained traction from his new social media account, where he posts short informational videos outlining his workout routines and diets that he does in order to grow and retain his muscle mass. He does all of this while maintaining his grades, working hard in basketball practices, and excelling in games. Yet, he still finds time in his schedule to help other people learn about working out and changing their diets to help grow their muscles and stay lean.
“He also stepped up as a leader this year for us,” Assistant Coach Ahlgren said. “This is a role I am excited to watch him grow into.”
Rubel was an undoubted staple in this season’s team. Having an outstanding junior basketball season, Rubel was the top scorer among the juniors on the team. After his stellar performance this year, expectations are sky high for his senior year. Rubel proved his worth this year; next year, he’s going to put his excellence on display and exceed all expectations.
