Prospect Spotlight: Ozzie Meiborg (2020)
One of the 40 guys to make our 2020 Watch List last November, 5-foot-11 point guard Ozzie Meiborg is a skilled point guard who will make a big impact on Iowa high school hoops in the very near future.
He’s currently in the midst of his 15U season with Iowa Mavs Purple, and says after a winter of playing up with the sophomore squad, his game improved considerably.
“Ever since I was little I’ve been a pretty good shooter, and just these last couple years I’ve been able to do some other things like get to the hoop,” said Meiborg. “And my pull-up and mid-range have gotten very good, and I feel like I’m a pretty good playmaker and a pretty good passer.”
He was playing up a grade level all last season with the Cedar Rapids Jefferson sophomore squad, and he started practicing with the varsity towards the end of the season.
Meiborg says the varsity experience was invaluable.
“Varsity was definitely a learning experience to get ready for next year. The difference between sophomore and varsity is so big and the physicality is so much different. Practicing with them was of high value for me, anything to get me ready for next year is a good thing,” said Meiborg, who mentioned what his role might be next season as a sophomore.
“My coach sees me as playing a really big role, we don’t have a lot returning so that gives me an opportunity to step in there and compete for a starting role — and a scoring role for sure.”
But first he has the rest on the spring and summer to compete with one of Iowa’s best 15U teams, Iowa Mavericks Purple.
“I think we have a chance to be very talented and compete with every team in the state,” he said. “And we really want to play teams like Quad City Elite and Martin Brothers and obviously Barnstormers, because we feel like we can compete with all of them and give them all a run for their money.”
Just a freshman still, Meiborg says recruitment isn’t necessarily a main focus of his right now, but he’s simply hoping to put himself on the map a bit first.
“I’m not thinking too much about that (recruitment) right now. I definitely hope it starts up, but my main focus is to just get ready for next winter, and then just put myself on the map and show people what I can do.”