By: centraljersey.com
Mike Klotz is developing into a standout for the West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys basketball team.
The sophomore guard is just trying to keep up with his twin sister.
Jacquie Klotz was born a half-hour earlier than Mike, and she got a year’s jump on him when she emerged as a go-to player in her freshman year last season.
"We’re both competitors," Mike said. "We both push each other. We both want to do better than each other. But we both want to see each other do well. I was happy to see her do well. It’s always nice to have a sister you can brag about."
And Jacquie will have plenty to talk about this season if Mike continues to emerge. He scored a career-high 26 in the Knight boys’ 47-46 loss to Hamilton in the ESCIT Flight 1 final on Wednesday.
"I’m impressed by his overall game," Jacquie said. "He always plays hard and his skills are great. He has some of the best skills I’ve ever seen. It’s so much fun to watch him. We’ll learn the skills together. To see him put them into the game, that’s so cool. And at the same time he has good shot, so that’s fun to watch too."
Jacquie had 17 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday to help the Knight girls to a 51-44 win over South Hunterdon in their Steve Wiener Memorial War of the Worlds tournament opener. WW-P North fell in the final to Bishop Ahr, 50-29, Wednesday.
The tournaments provided the unique chance for the twins to see each other play in person, though they’ll enjoy that chance again when both Knights play at rival WW-P South on Tuesday. On most nights, one is playing at home in front of their parents, Dorothy and Steve, while the other is on the road at the same time.
"I like to go watch him play as much as I can," Jacquie said. "It’s really interesting. Our parents videotape the games so I get to watch. I definitely get to see him play a good amount."
Added Mike: "I admire a lot of things she does. She plays really hard like I do. She’s probably a better shooter."
The two have the chance to make each other better. They will work out at times together, though playing 1-on-1 hasn’t happened.
"I don’t remember a time when we did," Jacquie said. "We couldn’t get past the first couple points. We’re very competitive. He’s always wanting me to play. We’re getting to that."
Mike agreed: "We’re both really competitive. If we play 1-on-1, it could get physical."
Their workouts have helped both develop into standouts for their teams. Mike came on strong at the end of his freshman year, even starting some games late in the year when injuries felled a couple of Knights.
"He got quite a bit of time as a freshman," said Knight boys coach Dale Florio, whose team is 3-2. "The time in varsity action last year has given him a lot more confidence at the start of this season. In some respects, I don’t look at him as a sophomore but as a seasoned player. I have to keep reminding myself that he’s a sophomore. He’ll still make some sophomore mistakes. "He’s very competitive. That’s a very good thing. I think that’s worn off on some of the other players."
Mike looks to be getting more comfortable every day at the varsity level and in what he can do to help the Knights. So far, he’s given them a lift.
"He’s ahead of where I expected him to be," Florio said. "He feels very comfortable out there. Against Lawrence, he had 23. Many of them were strong moves to the basket. He’s much more physical this year. He’s clearly stronger. He’s passed the ball well. He’s one of the team leaders in assists."
There are parallels in what they are going through as both are becoming bigger parts for their squads.
"I’ve become a lot more confident as a player because last year it was all new to me," Jacquie said. "This year, I’m ready to just go out and play. I learned most of the sets last year. It’s more playing than learning."
Said Mike: "I think the biggest thing I’ve improved on is getting stronger in the offseason. Lifting has helped me a lot. And the biggest thing is having a lot more confidence."
Mike is now a starter, and the 6-foot-1 guard is living up to his preseason expectations to be a bigger contributor. Jacquie made the bigger splash as a freshman, but now has to deal with teams knowing what she can do.
"She obviously has more experience," Mike said. "She’s in a different role than I am. I think in a couple years, I’ll be able to do that. I’m lucky to have a group of guys around me that can put the ball in the basket. She’s kind of in a tough situation. She is the focal point. It is a little easier on my point. I have so much talent around me it makes it easier."
Jacquie has been critical to the Knight girls chances. In the three games they have won, she has averaged over 22 points per game. She has been held to single digits in both games they lost, though figuring out how to guard the 5-foot-11 guard isn’t easy.
"She has to do everything," said Knight girls coach Bob Boyce, whose team is 3-2. "She’ll inbound against the full court press. She’s our best perimeter shooter. She’s our best inside threat. If you man press us like Trenton, she’ll bring the ball up against it. I consider her a guard. She’s my most skilled player against the pressure. She leads the team in rebounds. She’s 6-1 and you can’t guard her with a guard. She produces a bit of a situation for teams. If you’re going to play man, you defend her with your best player. But that player can’t be 5-4, or she’ll just go inside."
Boyce is looking for Jacquie to be a leader this year. Part of that job means making her less experienced teammates better, a lot of responsibility for a sophomore.
"She was just a freshman last year," Boyce said. "She doesn’t have the experienced players around her to be able to shoulder the burden. She’s drawing a lot of the attention.
"Her brother is on an experienced team with a lot of people around him. It’s kind of interesting. She’s done a good job. I made her a captain, her and Kerry McNeilly. It’s recognition of the leadership role she has to take on. It’ll get better as she gets better at that."
Said Jacquie: "We’re young so of course everyone has to learn everything. There’s a lot of skill, we just have to learn how to use it. Everyone is doing well."
The Klotz twins are still developing their games, and trying to help each other figure out their roles for this season.
"When he does come to my games, he definitely offers lots of help," Jacquie said. "Some can be annoying, but most of the time he offers good points. I definitely trust him because I know he knows what he’s talking about."
Mike has taken a big leap since last year, while Jacquie is adjusting to the new leadership role on top of maintaining her offensive contributions. But they have been on the same upward path since they started to play long ago.
"Our mom was really into basketball," Mike said. "We started playing at a really early age. At the beginning, I was probably more into it. As we got older, we had the same intensity and passion for the game."
They both played soccer growing up, and Mike even tried baseball. But by junior high, they were looking at basketball in their future.
"Since we were young, my mom has gotten so involved," Jacquie said. "She’s driven us to all sorts of games and practices. We’re set up with the opportunity to do it. Basketball is just a great game. We started to like it."
Jacquie and Mike Klotz’s passion for basketball has grown and it has helped them develop into major contributors on their respective WW-P North basketball teams. Each feels the pressure to perform for their Knights team, particularly if they’re trying to keep pace with each other.
