Recruiting Report: Troy Houghton (2018)
On the western edge of the state, Council Bluffs Lincoln’s Troy Houghton had one of the best junior seasons in Iowa last season.
Subsequently, his recruitment has started up a bit, but still, the 6-foot-3 slasher seems under the radar a bit.
“I talked to the Nebraska-Kearney coach, the Briar Cliff coach and I’ve gotten letters from a couple other places too,” said Houghton.
“Central Michigan follows me on my NCSA profile, so I’m planning on going to one of their camps. And I’ve gotten a couple letters from Tulane.”
An athletic wing, Houghton predicates his game on slashing and getting to the rim. He says he’s working to add some finesse to his skill-set this spring and summer.
“I’ve really been working on my jump-shot and trying to turn into a guard, so I’ve been working on my handles a lot too and set up the offense for A.L. (Abraham Lincoln),” said Houghton.
During the spring, he was asked to play with one of the best teams in the country, Iowa Barnstormers 17U. He did for one tournament, and he played with Southwest Iowa Select a bit too.
“I played a little Barnstormers ball at the start of the spring, and I work out three times a day to get my game better and keep turning myself into a guard,” said Houghton, who says morphing into a guard is atop his list of goals for the summer.
“It is a top priority for me because when I get to the next level I’m not going to be the biggest or strongest guy, so I need to mold myself into a guard, who’s also effective on the wing.”
As a junior with the Lynx, Houghton was sensational. He transferred into Council Bluffs Lincoln from Nebraska, and made his impact felt immediately; averaging 13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
“Coming in, I was just trying to work hard. And a couple practices in, coach told me he wanted to go to me and have the ball in my hands, and that’s and that’s what happened,” said Houghton, who mentioned what his senior season objective is.
“I talked to coach and he wants me out there basically the whole game, and to not slack and not take plays off.”
This summer he’ll continue to play with Southwest Iowa Select on occasion, and will be at several exposure camps as well.
“I’m just trying to get better and see if I can get stronger and faster,” said Houghton, “And as far as fitting in with a school (college), I don’t really know, I’m just seeing what I get and then asses it from there.”