Scouting and Highlights: Craig Sterk (2017)
Craig Sterk is a versatile 6’7″ forward. He can shoot the three ball, drive to the rim, rebound and block shots all at an effectively high rate. He played a key role on a McBain team that made a deep…
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Continue ReadingCraig Sterk is a versatile 6’7″ forward. He can shoot the three ball, drive to the rim, rebound and block shots all at an effectively high rate. He played a key role on a McBain team that made a deep run in the playoffs last year (Class C). He is the top player on a McBain team that is ranked in the top ten for Class C.
I believe Sterk could be a valuable player in college up to the D2 level. Although he has the height, I don’t think he has the athleticism to play the forward at the D1 level.
Here’s my take on Sterk’s game:
Strengths:
Shooting – He is an excellent shooter from anywhere on the floor. Not only can he shoot the three ball consistently, he can also extend his range several feet behind the line. He is capable of shooting off the dribble as well as off the catch. He is capable of shooting of smaller defenders. His shot looks smooth and comfortable from most positions.
Rebounding – He is a solid rebounder. While he lacks the athleticism to leap and go get it, he does a good job boxing out. He crashes the offensive glass hard, generating easy points off put-backs and layups. While he is skinny and may not appear strong, he uses his momentum well.
Finishing – He is a solid finisher around the rim. He does a good job finishing through contact or over defenders. He also does a good job using reverse layups to protect himself from getting his shot blocked. He can finish with both hands on both sides of the rim.
Shot Blocking – He’s constantly looking to block a shot. At 6’7″ with long arms, he finds success commonly. He’s an aggressive shot blocker, leaping up as high as he can to swat the ball. His shot-blocking ability helps make up for below average perimeter defense.
Areas For Development:
Defense – If Sterk wants to be a complete player, he is going to need to improve defensively. Most importantly, he needs to work on his overall foot speed and foot work. I believe he will need to improve his defense in order to not be a liability defensively at the college level. On the bright side, this is one of the easiest skills to improve. Defense is something that is consistently improved as players make the jump from high school to college.
Athleticism – This goes along with defense, as Sterk has slow feet and doesn’t have a great leaping ability. He’s also very skinny. The weight will come as he gets older, especially when he gets to college. Since he’s 6’7″, he can still perform at a high level without being a great leaper. If he can increase his vertical and speed, he will be an extremely tough matchup on both sides of the ball, as he has long arms and above average hand-eye coordination.