Michael Weber had an extraordinarily memorable high school basketball career at Ames High School. Two years removed, he’s working to join his more decorated prep teammates at the next level.

Weber was a two-year starter on those Ames teams. His mates included Harrison Barnes, once the nation’s top recruit who is now starring for preseason No. 1-ranked North Carolina, and Doug McDermott, a brilliant big man with Creighton.

Weber played before an ESPN audience when Ames took on Waukegan (Ill.) in a made-for-TV game at Hilton Coliseum in 2009, a 28-point Ames win. He played on two straight undefeated state championship teams. He played when Carolina coach Roy Williams was in the audience, and a half-dozen times when Kirkwood Community College Coach Doug Wagemester was in the crowd.

Williams got his man, and so did Wagemester.

“He’s our kind of guy,’’ Wagemester said. “He’s undersized at 5-8 or 5-9 and he can get lost in all the bodies but he kind of grows on you. We all have our prototypical recruit and some guys don’t quite fit that mold. Guys like Mike get overlooked, but they may just come back to beat you.’’

Weber is the second-leading scorer for Kirkwood at 12.8 points per game, making 54 percent of his 3-point attempts and averaging 3.6 assists. The Eagles, ranked No. 4 nationally in preseason, are 6-1 heading into Tuesday’s game against Marshalltown.

“Michael was up and down as a freshman but he’s come in this fall and taken the reins at his position,’’ Wagemester said. “He’s a great leader for us, sets the tempo, on time, sets up other guys. He’s opened some eyes.

“He had championship-type experience at the high school level. He’s a winner.’’

Weber and Barnes were basketball teammates back to their middle-school years. McDermott went to Ames in their eighth-grade year, and soon they formed the nucleus of one of the great two-year stretches in Iowa boys’ basketball history. In 2009, Ames also started Bubu Palo, now a sophomore contributor at Iowa State.

Weber stays in touch with Barnes and McDermott, although not so much during the basketball season. Weber went to Des Moines recently to watch McDermott and Creighton torch the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“It’s pretty amazing,’’ Weber said, reflecting on his prep days. “The three of us came together our junior year. Doug and Harrison were awfully good. I talk to them a little bit, maybe Doug more so.’’

Wagemester, one of the more successful junior college coaches in the country, zeroed in on Weber the summer before his senior season.

“The first time we saw him was in Milwaukee with that AAU team,’’ Wagemester said.  “I saw him in person in high school four or five times, and probably a dozen times as a staff. After a while, there wasn’t a week that went by that we didn’t see him.’’

Weber has the better part of his sophomore season to prove his worth to four-year colleges.

“Ever since I came here, the goal was always division one,’’ Weber said. “I strive for that every day. There’s some interest but I’m not really sure what I’ll be aiming for.’’

Weber has one clear focus, and that is to join Barnes, Weber and Palo at the Division I level. Wagemester thinks he has a chance.

“In a way, he’s kind of like Ali (Farokhmanesh),’’ Wagemester said, referring to the former star at Kirkwood and Northern Iowa. “When Ali came in, no one thought he was Missouri Valley Conference caliber. Michael is kind of under the radar like Ali was. He wasn’t quite quick enough, not quite big enough, not quite this or that.

“At the next level, it’s a matter of taste at point guard. Who knows where Mike will end up.’’

(Mark Dukes is former sports editor of the Cedar Rapid Gazette. He is co-host of The Gym Class radio show weekdays from 3-4 p.m. on KGYM-AM 1600.)