Recruiting Report: Justin Balcome (2018)
Six-foot-10 skilled big Justin Balcome was a key piece for an Alexandria team that won 20 games again. Balcome has grown in a lot of ways and should continue to grow.
Spencer Hockert and Jaran Roste led the team in scoring from the backcourt but Justin scored his nine points with seven boards a contest up front getting better with each game.
“There was a lot of areas in my game that my coaches worked hard with me to improve last winter, but I think what I picked up on the most was how to effect games in other ways than just scoring,” Justin told Prep Hoops.
“My coaches worked me hard to become a better and more agile defender, they taught me to be a vocal presence on the floor, and helped to improve my off the ball play to get my teammates good looks as well.”
Balcome and guard Trey Hoepner are the key pieces returning but the time spent with the team last year will not soon be forgotten.
“The experiences that I remember the most will never be the wins or the losses, it’ll be the long bus rides, the pasta feeds, the early practice post-breakfasts, and the life long bonds that I have created with all of my teammates,” Justin said about his junior year.
But time moves on. And Justin Balcome will move on. Justin knows what he wants to work on and what he needs to work towards.
“At the top of my personal list of things to improve would be my passing and ball handling skills, but I would like to become a smarter player as well,” Balcome explained.
“A goal for myself is to understand the game in a better way each day, by always listening to my coaches, and also working as hard as I can through summer workouts, camps, and tournaments.”
Balcome is playing with a talented Comets Servaty team that has some big wins playing a tough schedule locally and in the Ny2La Basketball League, but they also have had some losses they are hoping to get past.
“This season has been great, I love our group of guys from top to bottom,” Justin said about Comets Servaty. “But I think we would all collectively agree when I say that one of the biggest challenges that we have faced has been to adapt our style of play in order to win games at this level.
“All the teams we see are extremely talented, and every game we have to be ready to play and buckle down so that we give ourselves the best opportunity to win. I’ve learned that consistency is a big key to winning at any level, and I always need to be ready to go.”
Balcome has been offered by Jamestown and Northeast CC so far and numerous other programs are calling. Numerous.
“I’ve been hearing from schools at all levels, all the way from D1-JUCO/D3. I recently attended North Dakota State’s and Augustana’s Elite Camps and have been on campus at Southwest Minnesota State, and Jamestown. I have a few other NAIA and division two visits planned for the near future.”
“The schools I’m hearing from are Air Force, Bemidji State, SMSU, Augustana, Sioux Falls, Jamestown, Valley City State, St. Thomas, and St. John’s,” Balcome said.
So what is next for Balcome? Enjoying every day on the court!
“I want to become the best player I can possibly be and have a blast while doing it!”