Prospect Spotlight: Zach Latham (2018)
Zach Latham – 6’3” | SG | Gym Rats Black – Wilson | New Haven High School
Zach Latham is one of the more dynamic scorers in the Fort Wayne area. He has the ability to get hot from deep while also putting the ball on the floor and mixing it up in the paint. Zach plays for the Bulldogs at New Haven High School and finished up his AAU career playing with Gym Rats Black – Wilson.
His offensive package gives him the ability to be a weapon in a multitude of situations. He takes advantage of his height and length down on the block with smaller defenders. Latham has good footwork on the block and knows how to get his shot off against length and athleticism down low.
“I spent this summer working on getting to the rim and finishing on both sides. Adding this to my game helped me become a more proficient scorer and allowed me to create for my teammates.” Zach uses his length and frame to get into the defender’s hip on his drives. He embraces contact and finishes through it with strength.
Not only will Zach be counted on as a scorer this year, he is focusing on his defense and leadership in the off season as well. “I’m working on footwork and agility to be a factor on the defensive end. Most importantly, I’m working on becoming more of a vocal leader this year.”
Zach reads offensive tendencies well and gets into passing lanes to cause turnovers and deflections. He runs the floor in transition and has a high basketball IQ that he uses to his advantage to find openings in the defense.
Latham’s smooth stroke from deep pulls the defense tighter which allows him to expose driving lanes and get into the teeth of the defense. “I’m working on being consistent at scoring on all three levels.”
As Zach continues to add different skills to his offensive package, improves his athleticism and quickness, and continues to study the game, he will be one of the biggest matchup problems in the NE8 Conference. He’s consistently showing that he can finish above the rim in the half court while being a consistent weapon from deep. He will be a player that turns some heads his senior season and looks to take his game to the next level.
Highlight video from Jeremy Hamby: