The Chronicle

Alvin Sandique
Staff Writer

      On any team in any sport, you have your go to guys, your role players, and then you have those players that come out of the woodwork and surprise everyone. You get one of those hidden gems that blossom into one of the team’s key players. The CLC men’s basketball team has one of those guys in Prince Herdle.


      Herdle is a native of Lake Zurich and is in his first full year at CLC. He is a transfer student from Harper College, where he spent one semester.


      He is one of the reserves for the men’s basketball team and stands at 6’6”. While it may not show in his play, this is his first full season of playing organized basketball.


      Last fall, on a trip to the gym, Herdle was intrigued by the thought of being on the basketball team. He approached the coaches and they welcomed him with open arms. One of Herdle’s main reasons for joining the team was that he was looking for a new challenge.


      Herdle believes that playing for the school kills two birds with one stone.


      “The main benefit of being on this team is being a student athlete. I get to play basketball, at the same time get to receive a quality education,” Herdle said.  


      Not only is he taking advantage of every opportunity the school has presented, he is enjoying his time as a student athlete. “(Playing basketball) is very fun and interesting playing against quality competition from other places in the state,” Herdle said.


      “Ever since I started playing, the game has always been fun. The more I have been playing, the more fun I’ve been having. Other than having fun playing the game, being around quality teammates and having that team camaraderie has done nothing but add to the fun playing for this team.”


      What is even more amazing about this athlete is his drive and willingness to work.


      “What drives me to continue playing is the fact that I am always trying to get better. I am very curious to see how high my ceiling is as far as playing basketball is concerned,” Herdle said.


      The criminal justice major has some high expectations for himself on the basketball court and realizes what he has to do in order to fully tap into his potential as a basketball player.


      “One of my goals for next season is to make the starting five,” Herdle said. “One of the ways I plan on starting is putting in a lot of work in both the weight room and the gym in the off season. I want to show my coaches as well as my teammates that I deserve to be out there on the court.”


      He is a very genuine team player who is ready to break out and give a huge contribution to the basketball team.


      “I am always willing to help my team in every way possible,” Herdle said. “When coach (Hirsch) needs me to perform, I am ready and waiting.”


      Herdle hopes that his experience playing for the Lancers basketball team will catapult him into playing ball in the future at a bigger school.


      “I do want to play college ball elsewhere after my experience here playing with CLC,” Herdle said. “Preferably a Division I or Division II school.”


      Playing for the school has not come without any lessons being learned.


      “One of the most valuable lessons I learned while playing college basketball is to never quit and always finish what you started,” Herdle said. “Playing ball in college has made my ability to manage my time a lot better. The heavy load of schoolwork combined with the commitment you have to have playing a sport in college has helped me in that aspect of being a student athlete.”