Having players who can score at will is important to the success of any basketball team, but the hallmark of what makes good teams great is the leaders who lead by example through their work ethic, words, and consistency on and off the court. Senior boys basketball forward Max Beebe personifies that and after a pair of strong performances this week, he was chosen as the Current Athlete Of The Week.
“As a senior I feel like it is extremely important that I lead by example,” he said. “Although I’m not one of the top players on my team, when I am bringing that 100 percent effort at practice or in a game, my teammates will almost always match it. But to be totally honest, the younger guys push me just as hard as I push them. They are all so skilled and their work ethics are insane. I love playing with these guys. When we get in the zone, it’s such a great environment to be a part of.”
Beebe had an opportunity to play significant minutes in two games this past week with several key players unavailable due to COVID and other previously scheduled commitments. While he only averaged three points per game, he also averaged nine rebounds, five steals, three assists, and two blocks. He shined after being thrust into a starting role from his standard energy role off the bench. After speaking with his coaches and several teammates, it was impossible to find anyone who could say anything negative about Beebe.
“He is a great kid, I mean, you can’t get any better than Max,” head coach Willis Ferreira said. “He doesn’t complain about anything. He is just a hard worker man. I love him. I absolutely love him.”
Beebe was also a captain for the Whaler boys soccer team this fall and played a key role on their team as one of their top defenders. They had plenty of success, going 13-5-1 this year and making it to the second round of the state tournament.
“I don’t know if it is from soccer or what but Max is just so well-conditioned,” Ferreira said. “For him to have the energy to play that type of role for us and accept that role is impressive. Max is just a tough, no nonsense type of kid. He has been good for us and I am just so proud of the way he has fought. He knows what his role is and what he needs to do when he is on the court. He knows when he goes in there he needs to be an animal, and he has been that for us this year.”
Beebe says every time he steps on the court or field wearing the Whaler logo on his chest, he takes it very seriously and understands the responsibility that comes with that.
“Being a Nantucket High School athlete and competing at the varsity level is something I have looked forward to since elementary school,” Beebe said. “I love the feeling of playing for my school and representing my community. When I’m wearing my Whaler gear, I try to make each minute that I’m on the field or court count. Playing for my school means so much more when I know that I have a whole community cheering me on. I know I will cherish and look back on the memories I have made as a Whaler for my entire life.”
Beebe said during the stretch of time where there were only six or seven players available to practice earlier this month, he did whatever he could to help junior captain Karson Wellington keep their teammates focused on working hard and controlling what they could control.
“I’ll admit, it got tough to stay in the zone when we only had six or seven guys showing up to practice,” Beebe said. “But my message to the younger players during this period was to remain focused. I knew that this was a big opportunity for some of the guys who don’t usually get as much playing time, myself included. While they were gone, I did change the way I practiced a little. We were missing one of our captains and all of the other seniors so I made an effort to step it up.”
In Tuesday night’s game against Cape Cod Academy, the Whalers had nearly everyone available. But Beebe still played an important role and contributed key minutes defensively off the bench with a pair of steals and rebounds.
“He brings energy. He is a hustler. He dives on the floor. Offensively he may not do much for you when it comes to scoring but he does all of the little things we need on this team,” Ferreira said. “You saw tonight (against CCA) he made some plays for us.”
Beebe said what he loves most about playing basketball for Nantucket is his teammates and coaches. He said he is thankful for basketball because without it, he doesn’t know if he would have ever been able to form as strong and meaningful relationships with his teammates as he has over the years.
“Through this season and the last season I have become so close with all of them,” he said. “These guys are my brothers. The love and support I feel from each and every one of them is unreal.”
Beebe said the goal for this team is the same as it is every year. They want to win the league championship and see where the rest of the season takes them.
“I know that we have both the skill and the coaching on our team to do it,” Beebe said. “I have played on sports teams with some of these guys for just about as long as I can remember and because it is our last year together it means so much more.”
He said moving forward through the rest of this season, he is looking forward to playing in front of packed gyms filled with his friends, classmates, and family.
“It really is a whole different game when the student sections are packed and all of our parents are watching,” Beebe said. “It’s truly an amazing feeling. It reminds me of how it used to be before COVID hit. Following last year with so many COVID restraints, Whaler Pride has without a doubt gotten stronger this year. It’s obvious by the crammed bleachers at every game and each team coming out to cheer for one another. I love the community that I’m apart of and the support that we all show each other.”
