Gyse Hulsebosch is headed for Tinseltown – or close to it.
On the Dalben Center floor that bore witness to so many of his seemingly-supernatural exploits, the East Union senior signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball career on scholarship at Westmont College, an interdenominational Christian liberal arts college in Montecito nestled in the hills above Santa Barbara.
The Warriors are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and primarily compete in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
Lancers coach Ryan Tarr said the three-year starter was about as skilled as any player he has ever coached, but that skill came about as a result of hard work.
“I am super happy for him,” Lancers coach Ryan Tarr said. “He has practiced like no other kid I have coached before. He’s not very tall, so he has had to overcome that to get to where he is, but with that said, he is definitely one of the most skilled players I have coached or even seen.
“I kind of wish at times I could have just grabbed a seat in the stands, sit back and enjoy watching him do the things he did, but as a coach you are caught up in the game and you are worried about score, matchups, stopping them – whatever.”
Hulsebosch scored more than 1,300 points in his three years on the varsity and averaged 22.3 points per game.
“This feels amazing,” Hulsebosch said. “This is something I have always dreamed of and today it came true.
“I think I started dreaming of this when I was like 4 or 5 or so, or maybe like Coach Tarr said when I was in a high chair watching the NBA with my dad. I just loved it and just wanted to be the best I could be.”
When Hulsebosch was in the zone, it took more than one player to try to keep him in check.
“When he would go on one of his tears the opposition would throw three or four guys at him,” Tarr said. “Most fans don’t really understand how much coaches schemed for him and game planned for him, trying every defense they could.
“One game he took 17 shots and scored 42 points. It is tough to grasp just how amazing, efficient and spectacular that is.”
Hulsebosch went on a four-game tear this season, scoring 37, 36, 40 and 42 in consecutive games.
“He had a stretch where he had two games in the 30s and two in the 40s,” Tarr said. “He was only held to single digits once this season. At the all-league meeting coaches were just saying how phenomenal of a season he had.”