Recruiting Report: Jack Pugh (2021)
Search through the Prep Hoops Ohio archives and you won’t find anything about the class of incoming freshman. So, it’s only fitting that we begin our coverage of the 2021 class with potentially the best player coming into high school next season. Jack Pugh, a 6’5” 220-pound wing player, is returning to Ohio from a “gap year” in California on Tuesday. He will spend his high school days at Hilliard Bradley.
“I came out here to do a ‘gap year.’ Prepare for high school basketball and stuff. I haven’t really been playing eighth grade basketball, I’m playing up still to prepare me for high school,” Pugh said.
“My uncle, Steve Wade, lives out here. And he runs the program that used to be known as San Diego Select. Now they’re known as Cali Boost; they’re nationally known as really good. So I played with them in the past, just a couple tournaments a year. But we made it a full-time thing this year ... We’re on the 16U Adidas Gauntlet,” Pugh said.
Playing against 2019 competition in the most prestigious events Adidas has to offer has naturally benefitted Pugh. Simply put: Pugh has become a better player over the past year. The growth in his talent comes despite dealing with tendinitis in his shins, however.
“I’ve been playing most of the year, just until the last month I’ve cut down. That’s what the doctors told me to do. It’s like tendinitis and stress reactions in my shin,” Pugh said.
Pugh assured PHO that he’s not worried about the long-term effects of this issue.
“I just checked up with the doctor on Monday. He said everyone’s body heals different, and it just depends on that,” Pugh said.
As mentioned, his development as a player hasn’t suffered too much though.
“I’m a much better shooter. I’ve transitioned to a guard much better. I’m not really just a big guy who can score in the paint any more. I can still do that, but I’ve improved in other spots. My defense has improved tremendously,” Pugh said.
Given Pugh’s size, he’s going to be a walking mismatch with his newfound perimeter abilities. He also mentioned that his confidence with the outside shot has taken a 180-degree turn, meaning he will take the shot if defense’s allow it.
Going forward, Pugh wants to continue adding guard-skills to his arsenal. There’s little doubt that he will overcome his deficiencies, as the ultra competitive Pugh is clearly dedicated to his craft. Plus, again, he’s only an incoming freshman right now.
“Full-court ball-handling and coming off screens while dribbling the ball ... I have gotten better defensively, but I need to work on my full-court defense too,” Pugh said, when we asked what the next step in his game is.
