Days before the LIVE period opens, 2018 forward Pierce Kiesler (Pocket City AAU) set the landscape for his recruiting.
"I don't know if any others have contacted my coach, but I know Morehead State called," indicated Kiesler. "I went to Elon's Elite Camp. Air Force. Kent State sends mail. University of Illinois-Chicago sends mail."
Kiesler stands 6-foot-7, weighing 223 pounds. He sees himself as a stretch-4. Which colleges are intrigued?
Ohio Domincan is a strong option.
"I talk to them pretty frequently," said Kiesler. "U-Indy. Them and Bellarmine are at the top of 'their conference.'"
Kiesler projects as a sturdy frontcourt option, but like most Midwestern youths he worked early and often on his jump shot.
"I would say more of a 4-man, like a power forward except I can stretch the floor with my shot," said Kiesler. "For (St. Xavier) I play more of a center, but I play out more. I come out to the wing and I can drive."
In June Kiesler attended an immersive Elon Elite Camp.
"It was pretty good," said Kiesler. "It was a two-day thing. I felt I played pretty well and I got to meet their coaches."
Kiesler was proud of his contributions and impressions delivered at that camp. He rotated stations with the bigs and ran drills with current Elon players. Because the Elon Phoenix players essentially just ran the drills, Pierce was unable to compare his game to the current players.
"I want to say all but one of their players were there," said Kiesler. "They just ran drills. They never played against us."
August Plans
Three weeks of AAU competition come roaring through the door this week. Immediately after the LIVE period closes college camps pop up again. August camps are becoming more popular than ever.
"I think I am going to Ohio Dominican Elite Camp," said Pierce Kiesler.
Kiesler, the brother of Purdue junior Nora Kiesler, has developed a strong relationship with the entire Ohio Dominican University staff.
"I had gone on a visit," said Pierce Kiesler. "They asked me to come late June. It is really nice. I had been to Elon and seen all they had, mid-major D1. I thought ODU compared really well...their gyms and everything."
Kiesler conversed with "Coach Dan Evans. "There is Coach Kelly Winter. I talk to them a lot."
When he visited in June ODU coaches didn't sugarcoat the experience.
"They kind of gave me a pitch," said Kiesler. "To me seemed they really real. It didn't seem like they were fake, if that makes sense. They recruit really local. I was actually out of their (recruiting region). He just saw me (at Ft. Wayne Run N Slam) and was intrigued."
The coaches of ODU are not lying about their Ohio-leanings in the recruiting game. Last season 68.7% of the ODU players prepped in Ohio. The only Kentucky-raised player attended Hebron's Conner High School, which is mere miles across the Ohio River.
While August will present Kiesler with a unique opportunity to show out for ODU, July gives him and thousands of other college basketball aspirants the chance to expand their brand.
With Pocket City 17u, Pierce Kiesler runs with Robin Duncan (Evansville Harrison) and Luke Gohmann (Floyd Central).
Gohmann and Kiesler have been friends since Kindergarten. According to Pierce the team did "so-so" in April, but he expects a riveting July.
His final AAU push begins now.
