One glance at Matthew Lebron’s frame on a basketball court could make an opposing team scoff at his appearance.

After the James Irwin sophomore drops 20 on their defense in a half, that scoff changes into confusion.

The 5-foot-10, 135-pound sophomore earned this week’s Peak Performer as he continues to scorch his opponents and has helped the Jaguars to an 8-2 record.

“He’s learned how to listen,” Jaguars coach Jerry D. White said. “He’s learned how to understand what the coach is looking for. Last year was more of him taking on the world by himself. Things wouldn’t fall how they normally would when you play as a team. … With (his freshman) year under his belt, he learned to read the floor and he’s playing two or three plays ahead.”

Lebron’s ability to morph the court into a chessboard and his cerebral approach to the game happened in the offseason.

The sophomore spent three hours per day in the gym — 90 minutes lifting weights and another half hour working shooting drills.

Lifting gifted Lebron the confidence to drive to the hoop and take punishment from defenders looking to block his shot.

Matthew Lebron, James Irwin High School, is this week’s Peak Performer on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Lebron’s shooting drills in the summer, which he completed with his dad, added another layer of swagger to his game.

Each day during his summer training, Lebron would make 300 shots.

Not attempt — make.

“It was definitely tough, but it helped me a lot,” Lebron said. “That helped me get to where my shot is today.”

Included in those 300-made baskets was 100 3-pointers and an assortment of mid-range, elbow, post and other shots.

“We would do running drills and then some shooting drills, so I learned how to shoot with fatigue,” Lebron said. “At first it was challenging … but my dad pushed my limits and I’m thankful for that. Now I can be the shooter I am today.”

Toward the finale of Lebron’s freshman campaign, White asked his now-sophomore to “allow the game to come to him,” get his teammates involved and his points would certainly come.

After scoring 14 per game his freshman year and the Jaguars earning a 6-16 record, Lebron opened with 22 points, just three shy of his career-high 25.

“In the first half I got my teammates involved and in the second half they had my back,” Lebron said. “In the second half I caught fire and made four threes in a row. It was awesome.”

While watching the Jaguars sophomore during the opening game, a 78-59 win against Fountain Valley on Dec. 1, White knew Lebron matured and absorbed his advice.

When White recalled the opening game, he began to pantomime how players connected the dots with the coaches’ advice and how Lebron arrived where everyone hoped.

“He’s passing the ball more and letting the game come to him instead of forcing it,” White said. “He’s trusting his teammates and believing our words. After that first game I brought them in the locker room and I told them they could do something special this year.”

Through 10 games, Lebron averages 25.6 points, nearly 12 more than his freshman season.

And, as of Jan. 13, Lebron has scored 20-plus in seven consecutive games including a 40-point performance in an 82-48 win over Dolores Huerta on Dec. 7.

After averaging three assists and 2.5 steals as a freshman, Lebron currently has 3.8 assists and 4.9 steals per contest, which is third in Class 4A.

“I’ve taken the advice and now we’re making history,” Lebron said. “We pray to God every day that we can keep going and make history. We deserve this and I’m thankful to do this with the boys who I grew up with.”

Matthew Lebron, James Irwin High School, is this week’s Peak Performer on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)