The Knights’ second-year junior guard earned his third all-tournament selection of the season on Saturday after capping a stellar three-day run in the 53rd Oakdale Rotary Holiday Classic.

He averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals, as the Knights (9-4) won two out of three including the consolation final.

“He’s becoming more difficult for opposing teams to handle, because he scores in a variety of ways,” Ripon Christian coach Mark Hofman said. “He can take you off the dribble, score near the basket and he can shoot it, too.”

Vander Veen came into the tournament averaging 17.4 points per game. That got a big bump in the opener last Thursday, Dec. 26 with a career-high 33 points in a 73-65 setback against eventual tourney champ Gregori (12-3) — the No. 14-ranked team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, according to MaxPreps ratings. The Jaguars previously drubbed Ripon Christian by 22 points two weeks before that rematch.

The Knights jumped out to a 24-16 lead, and Vander Veen scored 20 of his 33 points in the first half. They led 39-32 at halftime.

“He seems to be extra motivated against these better teams,” Hofman said. “You can see it in his eyes.”

Ripon Christian’s next two games in the consolation bracket were a breeze. The Knights thumped Riverbank for the second time in 10 days 73-35, with Vander Veen producing 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

He then netted 19 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 67-30 blowout of Johansen in the consolation final Saturday.

Ripon Christian hosts Modesto (2-12) in its final pre-league tune-up this Saturday. Trans-Valley League action begins Jan. 8 against visiting Hilmar.