Recruiting Report: Ben Kinker (2017)
As it always is, size is one of the most valuable commodities in recruiting. You can’t have enough of it, usually because you can’t get enough of it. This is true at every level. Add in the versatile skill set…
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Continue ReadingAs it always is, size is one of the most valuable commodities in recruiting. You can’t have enough of it, usually because you can’t get enough of it. This is true at every level. Add in the versatile skill set of Ben Kinker and you have a guy who is trending up in a hurry this Summer.
The 6’7 forward isn’t the tallest player in the world but he has more than enough size and his ability to stretch the floor, face-up, and be effective is what is leading his charge. Ben is out of Oldenburg Academy and wasn’t too well known heading into this Spring but he’s done well performing in games that it has brought coaches back again and again to watch.
“I thought it was a great experience,” Kinker said of playing with Indiana Legends. “Having Coach (Isaac) Loechle putting us in the right exposure tournaments was key for the team getting exposure. He kept it as real as possible during practice and it was challenging.”
To this point, Kinker holds five offers. IU-Kokomo, Lawrence Tech, Indiana Tech, Purdue Northwest, and Notre Dame College are those that have offered but far from a complete list of interested schools. Wheaton, Rose-Hulman, Anderson, Trine, Marian, Goshen, Urbana, Findlay, and Ohio Dominican round out the list of non-DI programs. Kinker is also getting some DI interest as well from places like UW-Milwaukee, Cornell, American, and Furman.
“Solid,”Kinker said of his play this Spring and Summer. “But, I feel like I can do more.”
And he might be able to do more really quickly. Either way, colleges like what he has now.
“They like my length and versatility and being able to shoot the ball,” Ben said of his feedback from college coaches. “I have also been told that I have considerable upside and that my best basketball is front of me. Also my GPA has had a significant impact on my interest.”
Things should continue to stay hot with Kinker as he begins some visits this coming week. He will be visiting the NAIA programs Marian and Goshen. Ben heads to Marian on Tuesday and Goshen on Wednesday.