Prospect Profile: Brian Warinner (2019 Bend HS/The Hoop Salem)
The combination of size and shooting is definitely an asset in today’s college game. To that end, it should come as no surprise that Brian Warinner is drawing attention. The steady 6-foot-7, 185-pound rising senior from Bend High School is having fun playing with Team Hoop Salem so far this spring and it’s allowed him to get his feet wet in the recruiting game as well.
For Team Hoop Salem, Warinner has been having a blast. “It’s been going really well,” Warinner said. “I’m playing the three and the four and it’s a really good group of guys. Playing with (Jaden Nielsen-Skinner) is great – he’s been throwing me lobs off the backboard and stuff. It’s been really fun.”
Warinner mainly played as a stretch four at Bend this past season, mainly due to his size. Noted as a shooter, he’s enjoyed getting a chance to expand his game with The Hoop Salem 17Us and show off more skills. “I can definitely shoot it, but I’m pretty balanced,” Warinner said. “I rebound really well and I can get to the rim. I can block shots really well – I’m doing a little bit of everything.”
Warinner’s all-around ability and size as a potential wing player has college programs intrigued at multiple levels. He recently sent Lehigh some tape and has been talking to Portland State. Carroll College has been in contact as have others such as Whitman and George Fox. Warinner notes that the recruiting process is just getting started and is definitely new to him, but he does have an idea what he’s looking for in a college program.
“I want to find a culture that I will fit in good with – that’s the number one thing,” Warinner said. “I’ve visited Whitman before and seeing the way they do things there, the culture, they’re really tight. I’d like something like that.”
The Hoop Salem 17Us will next play in a couple of weeks in Bellevue. As he awaits the team’s next tournament, Warinner continues to work hard at getting better. “I’m trying to get stronger and faster,” Warinner said. “And I’m definitely still working on my outside shot since I’m getting recruited as a wing.”
Warinner currently ranks as the #8 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.