Recruiting Report: Dominique Joyce (2017)
While Roanoke is one of the more underrated and under recruited areas, some players standout early in their high school career and are put on the radar. 6’5” forward Dominique Joyce was that way, where he starred for Spectrum 16U…
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Continue ReadingWhile Roanoke is one of the more underrated and under recruited areas, some players standout early in their high school career and are put on the radar. 6’5” forward Dominique Joyce was that way, where he starred for Spectrum 16U two summers ago and had a great junior season at Patrick Henry where he averaged a double-double and even recorded a triple-double last year.
Unfortunately, Joyce suffered a minor back injury during the season which lingered into the early offseason. As he was preparing to get back on the AAU circuit, he then pulled a groin that sidelined him for the July live periods.
The injuries were unfortunate for him, as the summer going into your senior season is usually the biggest time for recruitment, he seems to be fully healthy and back to his productive ways. He was one of the top performers at the Dr1ven Timesland Invitational on Sunday, and once he gets back into basketball shape he’ll be ready for the season.
“I liked the camp, it was a very good camp,” Joyce said. “It was just hard man! I need to work on my endurance to make sure I can just play, I was good for one game, I just need to make sure I can go hard for three games, four games or however many games I need to play.”
Now that he’s back working out at full speed and playing live games, it shouldn’t take long for him to his conditioning right, which is a big key for Joyce. The long forward prides himself on being an impact player on both ends, where he uses his length and high motor to make plays all over the court. According to Joyce himself, it’s that, coupled with his versatility that separates him from other good players in the area.
“Playmaking,” he said was his biggest attribute. “Whatever you need me to do on the court. I can shoot, dribble, pass, defend, I pride myself on being an all-around player.”
It’s going to be important for Joyce to be in shape and at the top of his game this year for Patrick Henry, who after reclassifications last season were dropped into the stacked 5A class, often considered the deepest in the state. Regardless of who they play, Joyce says that the goals have not changed from last season.
“We’re going for that state championship, that’s been the only goal since last year,” Joyce said. “Personal goals would be first team All State, pick up some offers and just be the best player I can be every game.”
From a recruitment standpoint, he knows that he missed a lot of exposure this summer, but says schools like Randolph Macon and Wingate have been in contact with his parents and coach over the last couple of months. While it’s frustrating that he’s still under the radar, he believes that he can still take a big jump if he continues to do the right things.
“If I’m in shape during the season I know that I’ll see a big jump in my recruitment. I keep working on my grades, I did bad the first year before I realized I need to take it seriously and have been working to get them better since.”
It’s safe to say that Joyce is set up to have a huge senior season and be one of the most productive big men in the Roanoke area, if not the whole state. If he continues to do everything correctly, whether or not he blows up he’ll be a hard working and versatile get for the school that does want him.