Prospect Spotlight: Mert Halavurte (2019)
Mert Halavurte, a class of 2019 wing for St. Thomas More School in Connecticut, will be a name to know this spring. The Turkish import, who arrived in the U.S. just three months ago, made a strong impression at the Hoop Group NoVA Top-100 earlier this month.
“I started basketball when I was 10 years old,” said the 17 year old junior. “I live in Oakdale, Connecticut. I don’t have an AAU team yet because I play with my national team.”
Halavurte, an explosive 6-foot-4 wing who plays hard and likes to get downhill, mentioned that playing in Europe has given him a strong baseline from which to build his game. Two years ago, he featured on the U16 Turkish National Team, and last summer he played in China at the World Championships with the U18 Team.
“I learned smart basketball overseas,” he said. “I need to work on ball handling, and fundamentals.”
While he is relatively unknown in most recruiting circles, it probably won’t be long before Halavurte attracts attention on the grassroots circuit. What does Halavurte hope to bring to a program at the next level?
“Energy, and a good show.”
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