Donovan Gingrich is a name you might want to remember

The highlight of Donovan Gingrich’s freshman season came against Reading High when he knocked down a 3-pointer in front of a packed house at Conrad Weiser.

He was excited to play before so many people and to hit a ‘3’ against one of the best defensive teams in the state.

The buzz didn’t last long.

“As soon as I made it, their coach was flipping out,” Gingrich recalled. “He was like, ‘He doesn’t score one more time.’ “

Rick Perez is like that. He doesn’t think anyone should score a basket against the Red Knights. Ever.

So he challenged his fleet of tough perimeter defenders and they made his word stand up; Gingrich didn’t score again.

Few teams are able to defend like the Red Knights; none was able to slow down Gingrich after that. A couple nights after facing the wrath of the Red Knights Gingrich dropped five 3-pointers on Wilson and scored 17 points as the Scouts nearly puylled off a big upset.

He had five 3’s and 19 points against Muhlenberg and six 3’s and 19 points against Tulpehocken — both playoff teams.

Friday afternoon, in a game against Franklin High as part of the West Reading Cultural Exchange program, the rising sophomore was even better: Would you believe nine 3-pointers and 29 points? (His foot was on the line for his one 2-pointer or he would’ve had 10 treys.)

“He can do some things,” said Scouts coach Rich Miller, bidding for understatement of the year.

You probably haven’t heard of Donovan Gingrich yet, but you soon will.

In August he is expected to take over as quarterback at Weiser, and next season — and perhaps for the next few seasons — he figures to be the Scouts’ leading scorer in basketball.

He’s 6-foot, 165 pounds and naturally gifted. He may be even better at football than basketball; time will tell.

Gingrich moved into the Scouts’ starting lineup Jan. 6 against Twin Valley and went on to hit 40 3-pointers in the final 14 games.

He averaged 8.2 points over 18 games; only one other freshman in Berks County, Brendan Gaines of Daniel Boone, scored more.

“I got (the chance) to show Coach that I can shoot,” Gingrich said, “(that) I’m not afraid and I have confidence to shoot.”

He showed that Friday when he helped the Scouts rally from a 13-point halftime deficit to make a game of it in the final minutes. His seventh ‘3’ pulled Weiser within 43-40. He hit another a couple minutes later, and his last with 40 seconds to go to make 56-53.

The next time he touched the ball, with 14 seconds left, he was intentionally fouled 30 feet from the hoop; there’s no way the Franklin Wildcats were going to give him a chance to tie the game with another 3-pointer. The strategy worked: Franklin held on for a 58-53 win.

“It’s all there,” Miller said. “The skills, the ability, the feel for the game. You see that. Coming off a screen, he knows to pull up if a guy doesn’t come over to help right away. If a guy comes up, (he knows) he can get by ’em.

“He understands (the game). That’s why he’s open a lot. You see him (and wonder): ‘How’s that guy keep getting open?’ He’s using screens, he’s understanding how to move without the ball.”

At this point Gingrich’s offensive game is one-dimensional: He pretty much just shoots 3’s. Of his 48 baskets last season only five came from inside the arc. He got to the foul line just 13 times; Steph Curry can do that in a night.

Gingrich realizes his game needs to grow. He’s working with Albright assistant coach Matt Chalupa to develop other ways to score.

“Last year I was confident shooting,” he said. “I just have to start feeling confident going to the rim, creating contact. Next year I’ll (do that more).”

Gingrich said he’s been comfortable from the 3-point line since he was in fifth or sixth grade. Must be in the genes. His grandfather, Bob Gingrich, was a 1,000-point scorer at Albright in the 1970’s. His father, Brad, who played baseball and golfed for Reading High — and who could shoot the rock, too — has worked with Donovan on his stroke. And on his mindset.

“He wants me to be as confident as I can be,” Gingrich said. “Don’t be hesitant; just stay out there and do what I can do.”