Recruiting Report: Jerry “Gene” Higgins (2018)
The Villa Angela Saint Joseph’s Vikings have been off to a 2-3 start to the 2017 basketball season. One of the bright spots of the team and one of the top players in all of Ohio is Jerry “Gene” Higgins.
I was able to sit down and talk with Gene this week about his recruitment and his last high school season.
“My recruitment is starting to pick up slightly, some Ivy League, Patriot League schools, and low D1s are talking with me; along with some D2 schools. I’m not close to making a decision yet though.”
According to Verbal Commits, Higgins has two offers from Fairmont State and Army West Point.
Prior to the high school season, VASJ had a number of players transfer out and left the Vikings to have a very young rotation. Here’s what Gene had to say about how his team is going to be successful for the remainder of the season:
“As a team, we need to play fast and hard. We have to our run teams and force a lot of turnovers. It is key we get transition points and points off the early offense.”
VASJ has done their job putting the ball in the basket; they are averaging 80 points per game. As Higgins mentioned the Vikings need to do a better job pressuring offenses.
Lastly, I wanted to see what Higgins thinks of himself as a prospect:
“What sets me apart from all other prospects is my motor. I am able to play all game and play fast and hard. I am a great on the ball defender. I am also able to score at all 3 levels and make the right play as well. What also sets me apart is how much I am a competitor. At the next level, I will bring someone who is a winner (winning 22 playoff games and only losing 1 in 3 years with 3 state championship appearance, winning 2 of them). Also, they will get smart IQ player as well as a leader on and off the court.”
Higgins will be a steal for a college program. So far this season he is averaging 27 PPG, 7 rebounds, 6.3 Assists, and 3.3 steals per game. Many programs will be looking forward to Higgin’s decision.
The Vikings have gotten back to their winning ways with a victory against Eastlake North this past Tuesday night. VASJ faces up against Warren John F Kennedy later this week.