Recruiting Report: Matteo Busnardo (2017)
The energy from Matteo Busnardo is streaming through during a phone conversation. Basketball season is ticking ever so close, and you better believe Busnardo has the date circled on his calendar. “December 1st,” he says. “I can’t wait.” Busnardo has…
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Continue ReadingThe energy from Matteo Busnardo is streaming through during a phone conversation.
Basketball season is ticking ever so close, and you better believe Busnardo has the date circled on his calendar.
“December 1st,” he says. “I can’t wait.”
Busnardo has reason to be excited. Coming off a strong summer with the talented Colorado Chaos D1 Ambassadors 16s Elite team, the 5-foot-11 sharpshooting guard is eager to transfer his improvements to the high school arena, where he believes he can make waves this season.
“I think my leadership ability is a lot more than what it was last year,” Busnardo said. “Last year I was just kind of there. This year, I think I can step forward and take the role as more of a leader of the team. I’ll have a big opportunity to score, play defense and be vocal. Last year, there were other guys that were doing that. Now it’s my turn.”
That’s not to say Busnardo was a wallflower last season. Playing in 18 varsity games as a sophomore, he averaged 4.6 points per game while shooting 39 percent (16-of-41) from 3-point range, the best mark on the team.
Justin Nelson, who coached Busnardo with Chaos this summer, told said that his pupil has what it takes to become a highly efficient outside shooter.
He has a quick release, can come off screens and knock down shots in a quick hurry,” Nelson said. “He has really gained confidence and has grown offensively this spring and summer.”
Nelson was most impressed with how Busnardo used his marksmanship from the perimeter to create other opportunities with pump fakes and hard drives to the basket – avenues Nelson said “opened up a whole new game” for Busnardo.
Mullen, which went 8-16 last season, will certainly be able to use a player who can create on the offensive end this season, especially while they play without top prospect Nate Davis for what will likely be at least the first month of the season as he recovers from ACL surgery.
“Matteo is going to have a big role at Mullen this year and I am sure he is going to rise to that challenge,” Nelson said.
Busnardo said much of his excitement for the season stems from the energy he has seen from his teammates during offseason workouts.
“The work ethic that we have has shown through,” he said. “The fact that everyone has been showing up to our optional (workouts), it shows that a lot of guys care. A lot of people have shown that they are excited to get going, and we’re all on the same page.”
Busnardo’s recruiting has been light so far – he’s had some interest from NAIA schools – but he believes he will have the stage to demonstrate the skills this season that he believes can make him an ideal Division II player.
Busnardo believes his shooting ability can put him on the map. But he wants to show schools he can bring even more than that.
“I think just being an overall leader,” he said. “All teams need that, and I think I can definitely fill that role wherever I play.”