Recruiting Report: Caleb Middlesworth (2018)
In the class of 2018, the talent isn’t near the level of the stellar 2017 class, however, there are plenty of bright spots about to start shining here this season. Guys that are on the cusp of taking big steps…
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Continue ReadingIn the class of 2018, the talent isn’t near the level of the stellar 2017 class, however, there are plenty of bright spots about to start shining here this season. Guys that are on the cusp of taking big steps forward. One such player that is in that place is 2018 power forward Caleb Middlesworth.
The 6’8 prospect is part of a key group at Oak Hill, a 2A program that is one of the best in the state. They are 10-2 on the season with their only losses coming to Mississinewa and Louisville Waggoner (KY). Middlesworth is averaging 15.8 points and 7.9 rebounds a game while shooting 59% from the field. He’s got it all working this year after a key summer playing a more uptempo game with Grassroots Indiana.
“Really good so far,” Middlesworth said of the season to date. “We just brought in Tyce (Frank) this summer. The first couple games is about bringing him in and getting him a part of the group. So far, we are making really big steps and I like the way it is going.”
The balance of Oak Hill is great. With guys like Spencer Ballenger and David Arens, you have tons of size and everybody on the floor can shoot it including Middlesworth. Even though he’s more of a back-to-the-basket player, Caleb is shooting 41% from behind the arc.
“It is really nice to have five guys on the floor at the same time that can score the ball, that we aren’t selfish with the ball and we don’t care who gets the most points on any given night. Anybody can shoot the ball and anybody can score on any given night. We lost a lot of seniors from last year so I really need to fill that leadership role and I have a little more experience than the other guys so I just guiding them on the right path and keeping everybody’s heads facing straight.”
For Caleb, he’s really still trying to figure everything out and get back on track. The difference for him playing during the summer and then with his high school team is a little varied. For Oak Hill, Caleb plays more of that true power forward role that can stretch the floor a bit. During AAU, it is much more up and down and he’s stretch more away from the rim.
“With AAU it is more like this team, everybody can score the ball when they need to but this team it is a little more organized and we can have plays. With AAU it is everybody going right to the basket. Still trying to transition my game from AAU to Oak Hill it is kind of a struggle but it is going good.”
“I like the more structured high school team,” Caleb said of style he would like to see in a college. “I like having a general guideline or a heavier guideline of what we need to do. Have plays and everything. Know exactly what our goal is going into every single game.”
Colleges at the DII all the way up to the mid-major level have been checking in on Middlesworth. He’s an old-school player with a twist and it seems to be bringing himself to the attention of the schools. Wright State, Indiana State, Maryville, Ball State, and IUPUI are just a few of the college programs taking a look at the 6’8 prospect.
Middlesworth already has an offer from IUPUI, a school he’s been in to see already this season. He sees some similarities in the style and how he could fit in at their program.
“They play a lot of stuff we did, four-out, one-in, five-out, a whole spread offense,” Middlesworth said of IUPUI. “The defense was kind of the same. They do a lot of things that are the same things (Oak Hill) does.”
With still over a year to go before a possible decision, Middlesworth is working on finishing up a stellar year with Oak Hill as they try and make a run at a State Championship. Next up, though, is one of the toughest teams they will play all year in Southwood, a potential matchup in their Sectional.