Recruiting Report: Jake Dible (2018)
College programs looking for a tough presence around the rim should be keeping a close eye on 6’6” forward/center jake Dible (2018) at Ottawa-Glandorf. The senior leader has already drawn attention from a number of Division III programs.
“I’ve visited a couple D-III colleges, just like a few. Got a bunch of mail, maybe a couple D-II, mostly D-III … I visited Otterbein and Heidelberg so far,” Dible said.
While Otterbein and Heidelberg cannot offer scholarships, Dible told us that both schools have told him that he can join their program.
“I like both of those schools. They’re pretty nice campuses and everything,” Dible said.
Dible is also being recruited by Wittenberg, Bluffton, and Manchester. In feeling out schools, he’s looking for a couple key factors.
“The tradition they have, if they’re known for winning. A good, hard program, their academics and where I fit into the program,” Dible said.
There is no timetable for Dible’s college decision, as he’s “keeping [his] mind open to everything.”
For now, it’s November, which means that Dible can return back to the court after football. He said that it’s hard for him to find time to work on his game during the fall months, but he’s managed to continue working on his right hand.
“We’re not really allowed to [play basketball during the fall], our football coach doesn’t like us to. But we still get in the gym and get shots up. But, other than it’s kind of like we have to get back into the flow of stuff, like with conditioning,” he explained.
Another strong season for Dible at Ottawa Glandorf could open a couple more options for him at the next level. Last season he was named Honorable Mention All State on a team that finished the season ranked #5 in Division II.
This season, they’ve moved down to Division III, but Dible’s teammate Jay Kauifman, who was Second Team All State a year ago, will be sidelined for the start of the season with a knee injury. It’s Dible’s duty as a leader to keep the spirits high.
“They know that Jay has been working hard for recovery and everything. He’s working hard to get back and he will be back, I think, towards the end of December. Other than that, they know that’s a chance for them to step up and get their own time.”