How did the AAU season go for you during the off-season?
“AAU went well. In the spring, I played for Iowa Prep 15U and focused on improving my shooting, midrange, and 3-point shot. Those two improvements make me a lot harder to guard and will also open up some of my teammates. I also played with the school team for the summer. We all grew as a team throughout summer league.”
How have preseason workouts been going for the season?
“The first week was awesome. Coach is really emphasizing our communication and sprinting the floor all the time, which were two things that we struggled at last year. We did very well with both in the first week, but we still have a lot to improve on. Overall, I’m just trying to get a lot of shots up and get back in my groove.”
What have you improved on the most since last season?
“The one thing that I have improved on is my leadership. We lost five seniors that played last year, so we have a fairly young and inexperienced team. PJ and I both got a lot of minutes last year, so we both know that we will be the leaders of the team. My decision making is also improved as well. Having some experience and knowing the pace of the game helps me out a lot. I’ve been working on making the right reads throughout the first week. I hope to have a lot more assists and less turnovers this year.”
How do you believe your high school basketball team this season?
“I think we will be very solid. Every year, our goal is to make it to the state tournament and it is not out of reach. We will have to work hard, and everyone will have to find their roles, but we have a lot of talent and basketball IQ. If we can put everything together by the postseason, then we can be dangerous come playoff time.”
What is the toughest game on your schedule for 2018-2019?
“DNH will be one of the toughest games we will have. We split last year with them. They didn’t lose anyone from last year and we’re a very good team. Those two games will be tough, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Our conference is always so good though. Every night we have to be prepared and ready to go because every team has the ability to be good and beat us.”
What are the keys for your team having success?
“The keys for us to have success is being very solid on defense and rebounding. If we force tough shots and check out, then we can push the ball and get easy baskets on the other end. We have some good height this year, so working it down low will benefit the team as well.”
What sport do you want to play in college?
“As of right now, I don’t know which sport I want to play in college. I really enjoyed football this year and wouldn’t mind playing it, but I also would like playing basketball. Whatever opportunity I think is the best for me will be the deciding factor in which sport I will play in college.”
What colleges have been recruiting you?
“I haven’t received a lot of college attention. I have not gotten anything for football yet. For basketball, Upper Iowa invited me to their camp, which I couldn’t attend because of baseball. I also got invited to Coe’s camp as well. I don’t really expect to see my recruiting to spark up until more junior and senior years.”
Have you made any college trips yet?
“I haven’t made any college trips yet. Junior year is when I’ll start visiting colleges to see what interests me the most. I’ll also have a better understanding of who wants me to play for them.”
Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My favorite college is UNI. My dad went to UNI and then I grew up going to UNI games because Brooks McKowen played there. They have always been the team that I have been a fan of. If I were ever to get an offer to play there. I would take it in a heart-beat. Growing up, I always went to Panther Pals Camp, so I admired guys like Seth Tuttle, Ali Farokmenesh, and Wes Washpun.”
“AAU went well. In the spring, I played for Iowa Prep 15U and focused on improving my shooting, midrange, and 3-point shot. Those two improvements make me a lot harder to guard and will also open up some of my teammates. I also played with the school team for the summer. We all grew as a team throughout summer league.”
How have preseason workouts been going for the season?
“The first week was awesome. Coach is really emphasizing our communication and sprinting the floor all the time, which were two things that we struggled at last year. We did very well with both in the first week, but we still have a lot to improve on. Overall, I’m just trying to get a lot of shots up and get back in my groove.”
What have you improved on the most since last season?
“The one thing that I have improved on is my leadership. We lost five seniors that played last year, so we have a fairly young and inexperienced team. PJ and I both got a lot of minutes last year, so we both know that we will be the leaders of the team. My decision making is also improved as well. Having some experience and knowing the pace of the game helps me out a lot. I’ve been working on making the right reads throughout the first week. I hope to have a lot more assists and less turnovers this year.”
How do you believe your high school basketball team this season?
“I think we will be very solid. Every year, our goal is to make it to the state tournament and it is not out of reach. We will have to work hard, and everyone will have to find their roles, but we have a lot of talent and basketball IQ. If we can put everything together by the postseason, then we can be dangerous come playoff time.”
What is the toughest game on your schedule for 2018-2019?
“DNH will be one of the toughest games we will have. We split last year with them. They didn’t lose anyone from last year and we’re a very good team. Those two games will be tough, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Our conference is always so good though. Every night we have to be prepared and ready to go because every team has the ability to be good and beat us.”
What are the keys for your team having success?
“The keys for us to have success is being very solid on defense and rebounding. If we force tough shots and check out, then we can push the ball and get easy baskets on the other end. We have some good height this year, so working it down low will benefit the team as well.”
What sport do you want to play in college?
“As of right now, I don’t know which sport I want to play in college. I really enjoyed football this year and wouldn’t mind playing it, but I also would like playing basketball. Whatever opportunity I think is the best for me will be the deciding factor in which sport I will play in college.”
What colleges have been recruiting you?
“I haven’t received a lot of college attention. I have not gotten anything for football yet. For basketball, Upper Iowa invited me to their camp, which I couldn’t attend because of baseball. I also got invited to Coe’s camp as well. I don’t really expect to see my recruiting to spark up until more junior and senior years.”
Have you made any college trips yet?
“I haven’t made any college trips yet. Junior year is when I’ll start visiting colleges to see what interests me the most. I’ll also have a better understanding of who wants me to play for them.”
Did you have a favorite college growing up?
“My favorite college is UNI. My dad went to UNI and then I grew up going to UNI games because Brooks McKowen played there. They have always been the team that I have been a fan of. If I were ever to get an offer to play there. I would take it in a heart-beat. Growing up, I always went to Panther Pals Camp, so I admired guys like Seth Tuttle, Ali Farokmenesh, and Wes Washpun.”
