Rose set to fill leadership void in Cardinal’s boys basketball

Winlock High School Senior basketball player and home-schooled student Caleb Rose (#30) has taken on a leadership role with the Cardinals and is expected to take the reigns of an anticipated comeback for the team.

The Winlock basketball program has a very special senior this year. He is tall, lanky, a silky-smooth shooter with a wide wingspan, and has only been playing the game for four years.

Ironically, he doesn't even attend Winlock High School. He is actually enrolled in home school but has athletic eligibility at the local high school. According to the WIAA eligibility, home-based instruction students are categorized as regular members of a school.

Initially, Caleb Rose played basketball in his yard against his older brothers, but in time he came to area open gyms and began playing basketball at a much higher level.

“My first introduction to basketball was eight grade,” said Rose,  “but I would say I learned the game from the work I put in during the summers that followed.”

Rose spends most of his day in online classes and then joins his teammates in the Winlock High School gym for either early or late basketball practice.

Rose emerged last year as a junior when he played second fiddle to senior phenom Enrique Hernandez, and was noticed enough to earn an all-league honorable mention in the 2B Central League, averaging 11.2 points per game.

His most memorable performance was a 17-point, 16-rebound feat against Adna in the State WIAA regional Tournament at Mark Morris High School. So far this year, Rose is averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game.

While Winlock has struggled in the win column this year, Rose exploded for 24 points in their single victory (so far) against Northwest Christian on Dec. 5, while teammate Skylar Tremayne busted out for 25 points in the 63-51 victory.

Rose's favorite area of study is economics, but he currently has no plans for school next year when he receives his diploma.

Rose, his brother and older sister were all runners. He ran cross-country as a sophomore with the Toledo/Winlock team while his siblings also ran distance events for the Winlock High Track team.

For now, basketball is Rose’ athletic focus. Always the thinking man, he is trying to develop as a better player.

“I follow the NBA a little, but not much,” he stated. “I think I take different things I like from different players and try to emulate them,” he says about the handful of players he admires.

Winlock has four senior starters and a second home-schooled senior in Kyland Heuvel, who has been scoring near double figures off the bench.

With all of the experience, Winlock should be able to start turning their season around soon. After all, they started one-and-eight last year and ended the season at the state tournament in Spokane.

“Right now I am just playing ball,” said Rose. “I'm sure the coach will figure out how to get us going.”

When the Cardinals do get going, Rose will be one of the big reasons for their latest round of success.