DELAVAN - Jordan Zimmer never set out to become Delavan High School's basketball career scoring leader. "It was more or less something that happened," said the 6-foot-4, 180-pound off guard, who has 1,849 career points.

But Zimmer's erasure of Mike Gresham's old record of 1,806 wasn't totally by accident.

"I take my shooting pretty seriously," admitted Zimmer, who took 280 shots a day, six days a week for the past two off-seasons.

"I shoot 50,000 shots from the first of March to the end of September and those are any type of shots."

All that practice has Zimmer shooting close to 50 percent from the field to average 22.5 points and account for 38 percent of Delavan's offense.

He has led the Panthers to a 21-3 record and a No. 6 state ranking in Class 1A. Last summer's 23-5 record hinted such success was possible.

"Our expectations were very high at the start of the season," Zimmer said. "So far we have held up fairly well. We've had a few lapses (in losses to Pleasant Plains, Williamsville and Monmouth-Roseville)."

Zimmer has done his part by scoring 541 points. He had 595 last year (21.3 ppg), 418 as a sophomore (14.9 ppg) and 295 as a freshman (9.2 ppg).

"As a freshman I wasn't much of a jump shooter and I couldn't create my own shot," Zimmer said. "I just kind of hung out on the 3-point line."

Even though he later expanded his repertoire, the 3-point arc was never far from his heart. His 316 career 3-pointers rank eighth in state history. This year, his Pantagraph-area leading 90 3-pointers are 27 ahead of the No. 2 marksman.

"I figure three is worth more than two," he quipped. "I'm shooting all right from there (at 43 percent) so I might as well keep shooting. I've always been more of a shooter than a driver. I like to do both."

Most opponents try to stop Zimmer with "junk" defenses such as the box-and-one and the triangle-and-two.

"Sometimes they'll play just straight up man-to-man because we've got a lot of threats out there," said Zimmer, whose sophomore brother, Brady, chips in 12.1 points while 6-5 junior Mark Lessen adds 8.5.

Zimmer, who can also dunk, has a knack for drawing contact as he averages 3.9 free throw attempts per game. His 90.4 percent free throw accuracy leads the area.

The versatile Zimmer also leads the Panthers in assists (3.1) and steals (1.5).

Seventh-year Delavan coach Ryon Kramer said it's hard to identify Zimmer's faults.

"He's a competitor," Kramer said. "He's a nice kid. He's really admired in the community and school. He's involved in a lot of things."

On defense, Zimmer guards the opponents' best player regardless of position. Delavan holds foes to an area-best 45.2 points per game.

"Jordan has developed into a great all-around player," said Coach John Giesler of rival Illini Central.

"He is one of the finest players I have ever had to go against on the basketball court. He is in constant motion, always working to get the ball and be in a position to score."

Zimmer, the son of Beth and Doug Zimmer, is a straight-A student. His father, who was a track star at Illinois Wesleyan, now keeps the scorebook for Delavan.

"They are kind of like the All-American family," Kramer said. "Like the Cleavers maybe."

The Zimmer brothers have a relationship out of the 1950s, one based on mutual respect and admiration.

"I love playing with him," said Jordan, who hopes to keep playing next year at a Division I college. He will soon visit Saint Louis University.

"I honestly believe he can play at the Missouri Valley level because he will do whatever it takes," Kramer said. "He has a work ethic second to none."

Fifty-thousand shots confirm as much.

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Jordan Zimmer profile

Delavan school record: 1,849 career points

Career 3-pointers: 316 rank 8th in state history

Season averages: 22.5 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg