Recruiting Report: Zach Westphal (2018)
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Zach Westphal missed just about all of his junior high school season. He did his best to make up for lost time this summer playing with ECI.
Westphal, a 5-foot-11 guard from West Fargo Sheyenne, broke his foot in the second game of the high school season and missed the rest of action. He spent the grassroots season with ECI grinding his way back onto college radars.
“Things went really well,” said Westphal. “I love playing for ECI. It was great to be part of that program. I got a lot better as the summer progressed. Summer was a big opportunity for me and I think I did fairly well getting my name on the map.”
Westphal’s always been a quality 3-point shooter but the part of his game he wanted to get better at was defense. He said the collective team identity with ECI this past summer helped foster that part of his game.
“The style we play is kind of get down, get dirty,” Westphal said. “The teams down there in Minneapolis, they are so much more athletic than we were. So we had to get gritty and play tough defensively. If we did that, we’d have success.”
Westphal could have some options when it comes to picking a sport to play in college. He’s a top wide receiver for Sheyenne – which upset Bismarck Century to open its 2018 season – and is drawing college interest in both sports.
“Jamestown offered me a couple weeks ago for basketball,” said Westphal. “Minnesota Morris has been on me as well. I’ve visited both. I love both campuses. Both are great schools. I have some interest for football too. Just talking to people now, so I’m not sure if I want to commit for basketball right now or wait and see what kind of football offers can come in. Valley City and Morris for football so there’s a few there.”