Recruiting Report: Luka Garza (2017)
With a bundle of offers already in his pocket, Maret’s 6-foot-11 center Luka Garza has quickly become one of the country’s hottest prospects.
Currently the versatile 2017 holds 18 offers, many of which have come since the April live periods ended late last month.
Binghamton, George Washington, Iowa, St. Joseph’s, Central Michigan, Lehigh, San Francisco, American, La Salle, James Madison, Penn State, Loyola (MD), Central Florida, Princeton, Columbia, Alabama, Northwestern, and Navy have all offered.
He’s picked up nine offers in the last two weeks since he got back from a live period event in Brooklyn, including; Alabama, Princeton, Columbia, Penn State, Northwestern, Central Florida and others.
When noting what was most important to him in the decision process, academics was the first factor brought up.
“I go to a great academic school, one of the top in the country, so academics has always been a priority of mine. I’m really looking for a great academic institution. Pretty much all of the schools that have offered me have a great academic side,” said Garza.
“And another main thing is to just fit with the coaching staff and have a great relationship with them. And just be comfortable and feel like that place is home, and that the coach there is really a guy you want to play with for the next four years.”
Versatile offensively, able to knock in a 3-ball, and a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor, Garza is coming off the heels of a sensational junior season with the Frogs.
“I thought I had a pretty good season, averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks per game,” said Garza. “I thought I did a good job at being a leader on my team, especially since we had a really young team. I’m very excited for next year, to come back and be able to produce like I did this year for my team.”
In the meantime, Garza will again run with the supremely talented Team Takeover in the Nike EYBL.
“Our main goal as a team and my main goal is to win Peach Jam. Our team is so talented, it’s just so fun to play with them. It’s always a great experience, even in practice, just to be around that kind of talent,” said Garza, who mentioned simply winning is priority number one right now.
“Recruitment to me is something that I feel is just going to come if I do what I do. My main focus for the July live period is winning, that’s always been the most important thing for me.”
So, when will he make his college decision?
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot, and I plan to take a lot of visits before July starts and I don’t know at this point,” said Garza. “I’m just going to visit a lot of schools and if I find a place that is the place I might end it early. And if I need to wait for something else to come along, I will do that.”