Elliott Bessen remembers when he scored his first varsity basket for the Eau Claire North boys basketball team. He knocked down a 3-pointer during the first game of his sophomore season.
Bessen certainly won’t forget the last basket he made this past Friday against Chippewa Falls. That is when the 6-foot-2 senior guard scored his 1,000th career point.
“I backed my defender down, and they came in to double me from the strong side,” he said. “I spun out of it and just attacked and finished over the top of them.”
That basket was part of a brilliant 30-point performance for Bessen, who finished just one point off his career high. Bessen has had a superb career with the Huskies, who are 8-12 this winter.
He is playing his best basketball during his final prep season. Bessen is averaging 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this season.
Hitting the 1,000-point mark is an impressive achievement for anyone. Bessen was quick to point out that he didn’t achieve this on his own.
He was honored after last week’s game with a congratulatory sign that recognized his accomplishment. A smiling Bessen also posed for photos with his North teammates.
“It was surreal,” Bessen said. “It was really cool — it was fun sharing that moment with my teammates. They have assisted on so many of my baskets with their great passes and unselfish play.”
North coach Logan Horn raves about what Bessen has meant to the Husky program.
“Elliott is a great kid and an excellent student,” Horn said. “He’s been a great leader. We had a bunch of seniors graduate last year and we needed someone to step up as a leader, and he and a couple of others have done a great job of that this year.
“He’s really a selfless player. He leads the team in scoring and also leads the team in assists. He’s a great teammate who makes really good decisions.”
Bessen has steadily improved during his prep career. He averaged 13.4 points and 4.1 rebounds as a junior for North.
“I have put in a lot of time and work in the offseason,” he said. “I have got into the weight room this year, and it has really helped my athleticism and my strength. I am able to finish better at the rim.”
Bessen is a versatile player who can run the point and also excel at shooting guard as an effective 3-point shooter.
“Elliott is a really good ball handler,” Horn said. “He has really elevated his game with his ability to get downhill. I am really impressed with how he consistently gets to the rim now.
“He has a super high basketball IQ and really understands the game well. He’s lived in the gym his whole life.”
Bessen’s father, Matt, has been a successful coach at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, he was a men’s basketball assistant coach for UW-Eau Claire.
Elliott Bessen plans to keep playing after high school. He has committed to play for UW-Platteville at the NCAA Division III level.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “They have a great basketball program and they are ranked third in the country. It’s a historic program. And it is a strong academic school where I plan to study architecture.”
For now, he is focused on finishing strong during the remainder of his senior year. The Huskies are scheduled to play at rival Memorial on Friday night.
“We want to keep coming together as a team,” Bessen said. “I only have five or six games left with the guys I’ve played with since fifth grade. I want to enjoy these last few weeks and have as much fun as we can and win as many games as we can.”
North will face a strong Memorial team that is ranked fifth in the state. The Old Abes won 84-39 at North on Jan. 21. Bessen had nine points and five rebounds in that contest.
“Memorial doesn’t have any flaws — they can shoot, they are tall, and their defense is outstanding,” Bessen said. “It’s going to take a group effort. I know our coaches will have a good game plan for us. We just have to go out there and execute. If we do, I believe we can get the win.”
