Warsaw senior Jared Bloom will continue his hoops career at IPFW as a preferred walk-on. Bloom, in the middle of the front row, is flanked by his parents Larry and LaDonna above. In back (from left) are WCHS Athletic Director Dave Anson, WCHS boys basketball coach Doug Ogle and WCHS assistant coaches David Wayne and Hal Gunter (Photo provided)

WARSAW – The wait was well worth it for Jared Bloom.

Warsaw’s senior hoops standout, after a very long process, has found his college home on the hardwood.

Bloom, a clutch and consistent guard for the Tigers, will be a preferred walk-on at IPFW.

“I’m very happy with my choice,” said Bloom in a phone interview Wednesday night. “It was a very long and tedious process. I didn’t want to rush it. I took my time and wanted to make sure that I found the right place for me.

“I’m just so thankful and blessed for this opportunity. It’s the chance for me to live out a dream.”

Bloom, who also looked at several options at either NAIA or lower Division schools, will be a part of the NCAA Division I Mastodons program.

“I had no idea what would happen,” said Bloom. “I honestly did not think I would reach the Division I level. I just kept believing in myself and then this opportunity came my way.

“I think this gives me the best opportunity to become the best player I can be. I improved a lot in the last year and think I can get a lot better and can become a pretty solid player.”

Bloom had a breakout senior season for coach Doug Ogle’s squad. The cool and heady backcourt star led Warsaw to a 13-11 mark and was one of the heroes of an improbable Class 4-A sectional championship. He hit the game winning free throw in a first-round sectional win over Elkhart Central and then scored a career-high 33 points in a 64-57 sectional title game win over Northridge.

“I’m happy for Jared,” said coach Ogle. “He’s realizing his goal of being a Division I player. He’s the model for our younger guys and for how you do it.

“He was just determined to get better. He just put the time in and paid his dues. It was simply remarkable his improvement from his junior to senior year. His skill level took a huge jump.

“He’s very humble and I love that about him. He’s just a likable kid of high character.”

Bloom flew under the radar early on in his prep career. He averaged four points-per-game as a sophomore and then 9.8 his junior season. In his final campaign, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a steal per game. Bloom shot 49 percent overall from the field, including 40 percent on threes and 78 percent from the line.

“Jared showed flashes of brilliance his junior year,” Ogle said. “He was a better player than he thought he was. He just needed to become a better ball handler and able to score off the dribble.  He needed to be more aggressive offensively and that happened this year. His confidence was higher.”

Bloom chose IPFW after Ogle sent the school tapes of his stellar showing in the sectional and then he went there for a visit and an individual workout.

Bloom, who was an all-state honorable mention selection by the Associated Press, was at his best this past season at the biggest moments. He hit the game winning shot or free throw in four Tiger victories during the 2012-13 campaign.

“Those are the moments you work for and practice every day for,” said Bloom, who played on the winning team in the McDonald’s Michiana All-Star game following the season. “You want to win it for your team.”

Bloom, who spent countless hours honing his craft at the Baker Youth Club in Warsaw,  thanked those who helped him along the way.

“My parents (Larry and LaDonna) were the biggest part of helping me reach this dream,” said Bloom. “A lot of people helped me achieve this, like Doug Ogle, Jason Culver, Todd Braddock, Tracy Furnivall.”