The Valparaiso University men's basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the addition of Camden Webster (Wheatfield, Ind. / Kankakee Valley [Bosco Institute]), who joins the team as a freshman walk-on for the 2025-26 season.
 
"This opportunity means a lot to me," Webster said. "My whole goal when I was little was to become a Division-I basketball player and play as long as I could. Reaching that goal and being able to say my hard work paid off means a lot to me. I live only 25 minutes away, so being close, people have always said Valpo could be a spot for me."
 
This continues the Valpo program's strong connection with Bosco Institute, as Webster spent the 2024-25 season at the prep school after graduating from nearby Kankakee Valley High School in 2024.
 
"This past year was good; it helped me get ready for college," he said. "We were on more of a college schedule and we treated it more like college than high school. We had practice every night and we played against strong competition. Coach Niko (Panousis) and Coach Dave (Maravilla) did a great job of showing us what college was like and making practice feel like college. I had the chance to play against older guys every day and that really prepared me to come to college."
 
During his high school career with the Kougars, Webster became the program's all-time leading scorer, surpassing the previous school record of 1,328 with 26 points in his Senior Night game against McCutcheon. The four-year starter surpassed a mark that had stood for nearly five decades. He led KV in scoring in each of his final three seasons.
 
"My favorite basketball memory is third-grade AAU when my dad coached and I played with my childhood friends that I'm still friends with to this day," he said. "In the summer, I remember having sleepovers and then going to games. I remember going up to The Courts in Valpo and playing and traveling to Illinois to play in tournaments there."
 
Webster will now have the opportunity to play for the Beacons at the Athletics-Recreation after attending games as a spectator during his younger years. When he was in eighth grade, his team went to the famous Jan. 2, 2019 game, when Valpo rallied from double figures down with less than two minutes remaining to beat Illinois State 58-56 on a half-court buzzer-beater by Markus Golder.
 
Webster, who intends to major in finance, loves going to the lake. He enjoys wakeboarding, skiing, tubing and being outside and in the water. He also enjoys listening to music, going to his grandmother's house and spending time with friends and family.
 
"I'm a very competitive person," he said. "I'll do whatever it takes to help the team win. I want to get our guys ready to go in practice. If I get an opportunity to play, I'll be 100 percent ready from workouts and grinding. My shooting is what has always stood out. I've been known to score the ball more, but at Bosco I was known more for defense. I'm laid back but also competitive. I want to make sure everyone is having a good time in the locker room, but for games and practices, I'm locked in and focused. I'll bring a lot of energy and positivity to the team."