Stephen Hood stands 6-feet, 4-inches tall, and is a standout basketball player for Panther Valley.

As the Panthers’ tallest player, you might think the basket he would score to reach the career 1,000-point plateau would be a layup or putback, but a strong inside presence is only part of Hood’s well-rounded game.

In the third quarter of a victory over Jim Thorpe on Jan. 13, Hood stepped back on the wing and let fly a three-point shot that found nothing but net. The basket ensured his name would join that of five other Panther Valley High School boys basketball players on the banner of 1,000-point scorers that hangs on the wall above the Panthers’ basketball court.

“When I was in the seventh and eighth grade, I wanted to play basketball at the high school and score 1,000 points,” said Hood. “I watched Rene Figueroa and Tristan Blasko do it, so I kind of made it my goal.”

With a determined effort and an unwavering belief in his abilities, Hood has accomplished the lofty goal without the flash of a player who the fans would take immediate notice of, according to his coach Pat Crampsie.

“Stephen is a very humble kid. He’s low key on the court, and lets his game do the talking,” said Crampsie.

When asked about the skill set Hood brings to the hardwood, Crampsie said that his senior forward can do everything.

“He’s very mobile for his size, and he’s been one of our best shooters for years. He can score from underneath, and also hit the three-pointer. I would say Stephen’s favorite shot is his fade-away jumper - something you don’t see many players do anymore.”

Hood has been a varsity starter for the past four years. He picked a perfect night to make school history, as the home game was played in honor of long-time Panther Valley basketball coach Brian Carroll, who passed away in 2022, and it was also Senior Night.

Hood explained why he’s worked so hard on his shooting, especially the fadeaway.

“It was easy for me when I was younger and the biggest kid to score points, but I realized that when I got older, there would be plenty of kids bigger than me, so I worked on the fade-away because it’s a shot that’s nearly impossible to block,” said Hood.

Hood, who is averaging 11.45 points a game this season, scored 25 against Thorpe on his historic night. He currently has 1,038 career points through games of Tuesday, Jan. 23. With six regular season games remaining and possible postseason games as well, Hood’s climb up the Panther career scoring list isn’t finished yet.

Figueroa stands at the top of the list with 1,544 points. Gary Barna, who was the first player to have his name put on the on the banner in 1980, is next at 1,225. Hood has a realistic chance to pass Blasko (1,067), Jim Mikovich (1,093) and Brian Raabe (1,113) - and has an outside shot at surpassing Barna.

As proud as Crampsie is of what Hood has accomplished on the court, he’s just as proud of the person Hood has become off the court.

“Stephen is a friend to everyone. From the high school down to the elementary school, the kids love him,” said Crampsie. “He’ll show up at a Little League game or a junior high school basketball game by himself. He’s dedicated his time to be present in the community.”

Hood, who is also a standout member of the Panther Valley baseball team, said his future plans include playing baseball at Kutztown University where he intends to major in criminal justice.

Hood’s plan to play college baseball means his basketball playing days could be quickly coming to an end.

But before that happens, he’s committed to helping lead the Panthers into the playoffs and make a run at some postseason hardware.