Prospect Spotlight: Ben Gerdes (2018)
Cedar Falls will be considered among the favorites to compete for a state title over the next two years, and 6-foot-3 wing Ben Gerdes is a big reason why. Obviously AJ Green running the show at point guard is…
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Continue ReadingCedar Falls will be considered among the favorites to compete for a state title over the next two years, and 6-foot-3 wing Ben Gerdes is a big reason why.
Obviously AJ Green running the show at point guard is critical for the Tigers, but Gerdes will come in and make an impact alongside Green — both of them juniors — in the starting lineup this season.
Gerdes will play football this fall with the Tigers — though he says basketball is his primary sport — then he’ll turn his attention towards his junior season with one of the state’s most talented young teams.
“I think I’ll have a much bigger role this season,” said Gerdes, who averaged 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds last season as a sophomore. “I’ll be one of the main scorers along with AJ (Green). Our goal is to obviously make it to state — we’re young so it’ll be tough, but I think that we can do it.”
A good-sized guard who likes to exploit smaller opponents, Gerdes says his best strength is attacking the hoop, and also his basketball IQ.
“I like to run the floor, get moving quick, I like to attack the basket — I just have an attack mentality,” said Gerdes.
“I think I run transition well, ball-handling-wise. I think I have good vision, I can see lanes opening up well. Something I’ve been working on is shooting, that’s something I could be better at.”
After recently wrapping up his 16U season playing on one of the state’s best grassroots teams, Martins Brothers 16U, Gerdes was able to pick up a little bit of college interest.
“My role was more of a role player because we had so much talent on that (Martin Brothers) team. But overall I thought I played well this spring and summer,” said Gerdes, who mentioned Briar Cliff and Upper Iowa have reached out.
“I’m hoping to get a couple more coaches looking at me over the next year — that’s definitely something I want.”