Kent City’s Geers reaches 1,000-point plateau as a junior

By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

KENT CITY–Kent City junior Maddie Geers has left her mark on the Eagles’ basketball program in less than three full seasons.

Geers reached the 1,000-point plateau for her career on Feb. 21 against Morley-Stanwood.

She was the second member of the Geers family to reach that plateau. Her sister, Kaitlyn, also eclipsed that mark during her days as an Eagle.

Maddie Geers is a three-year starter who does more than just score points. She is among the team leaders in rebounds (119), assists (62), steals (82) and blocked shots (35). Geers averages 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She also averages 3.8 steals per game.

She also is one of the top free-throw shooters and credits Coach Aleah Holcomb for pushing her and her teammates

“I’m not really a perimeter shooter,” she said. “I am really someone who likes driving to the bucket and that will usually mean getting fouled. So I work a lot on my free throw shooting and (Coach) Aleah Holcomb puts us through a lot of free throw shooting drills.”

Geers makes a living at the free-throw line, where she is 104-of-148. (Photo/Krisha Wainright)

Geers knows how special it is to reach such a milestone.

“It was a really cool experience,” said Geers. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches who helped me get there. I can remember when I was in fourth grade and watching my older sister Kaitlyn score 1,000 points and I thought that was cool and I always wanted to do that.”

Geers recently made visits to a number of NCAA Division I colleges including Bowling Green and Western Michigan.

“I do have some offers out there and I am getting closer to making a commitment but we’re just not there yet,” Geers said.

Geers has gotten the opportunity to play on the big stage the past two seasons as Kent City has reached the MHSAA Division 3 championship game. Each time, they came up just short of their ultimate goal.

Geers is often double or tripled teamed by opposing teams. (Photo/Krisha Wainright)

“It’s hard, but that is a really good experience to get there 2 years in a row,” she said. “I am looking forward to getting back there again this year. We just have to keep pushing forward.”

Basketball is an all-year sport for Geers and her family. She participates in numerous camps during the off-season.

“I go to a few college camps during the summer and we coach a little girls camp here at Kent City,” Geers said. “Other than that, I am busy with AAU and that pretty much takes up all of my time and my family’s time. We travel all over the Midwest.

Geers has been playing with the West Michigan Drive since fifth grade.

Geers credits her mentors for not only their coaching, but being her family.

“I have always looked up to my brother and my two sisters (Kaitlyn and Emma), but I really couldn’t have done what I have been able to accomplish without the support of my parents,” said Geers, who still has some unfinished business she would like to accomplish.

“I want to get back to the state finals and hopefully win a state championship,” she said. “Beyond that, I just want to win one game at a time.”

When she’s away from the Eagle team, Geers appreciates the opportunity to help run the kids’ camp.

“I really like our little kids camp a lot,” she said. “I get to focus a lot of my time talking about our role in school, but yet participating in sports as well. The little kids look up to us a lot and I really like that. It’s a great experience.”