ROCHELLE — Landon Griffith was one of the top scorers for the Rochelle Hubs varsity basketball team this season, and the senior guard will be taking his talents to the next level when he suits up for the Kishwaukee Kougars next year.

After narrowing his decision down to three schools including Judson University and Olivet Nazarene University, Griffith chose to stay close to home and begin his college career at Kishwaukee College. The 6-foot-2-inch guard averaged 13.2 points per game for the Hubs this season, and he said he’s looking forward to continuing his athletic career.

“I’m excited,” Griffith said. “They have a lot of talent and I think I can fit in right with them. I’m excited to keep my career going because basketball is one of my favorite sports and I love it.”

A varsity starter for most of his high school career, Griffith was one of three Hubs to be recognized by the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference this season, taking home an All-Conference Honorable Mention alongside senior teammate Kyle Seebach. Behind Griffith, Seebach and senior Caleb Gould, the Hubs went an impressive 20-8 this season, winning more home games than they did over the previous two years combined.

“I thought Landon had a fantastic year and he has truly grown as a player over the last four years,” Rochelle head coach Tim Thompson said. “I think his best years are ahead of him if he continues to work on his game. I’m excited to watch him over at Kishwaukee.”

Griffith was a catalyst for many Rochelle victories this season including a tough road game against the Ottawa Pirates back in December. The senior drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, and even though the Pirates were able to force overtime, Griffith grabbed a critical offensive rebound and put in a 2-point shot near the end of the extended period to help the Hubs hang on for a conference win.

Griffith also stepped up for the Hubs in the championship game of the E.C. Nichols Holiday Classic in Marengo, scoring 16 points to help Rochelle take down Genoa-Kingston and win its first holiday tournament since 2003.

The Kougars are coming off a 15-16 season, but Griffith is hoping to make an impact with his new team right away. He said he plans to work on both his defense and his shooting in order to become a 3-point specialist for Kishwaukee in the winter. He also credited both Thompson and assistant coach Jared Johnson for helping him grow throughout his time at Rochelle Township High School.

“Coach J helped me in the weight room and coach Thompson has helped me with my game a lot too,” Griffith said. “With summer ball, he helped me improve my jump shot and as a team player he’s helped me a lot.”