Prospect Profile: Eddy Hochsprung (2019 Sehome HS)
Eddy Hochsprung is simply itching to play. The all-around 6-foot-4, 165-pound guard from Sehome High School in Bellingham has missed most of the spring AAU circuit due to injury. So you can bet that the rising senior is chomping at the bit to make his mark on the basketball floor this summer.
“I’ve been out these last six weeks and I’m feeling kinda rusty,” Hochsprung said. “But I want to finish strong on 17U until the end of July.”
Hochsprung, who plays with the Seattle Select High Academic squad, started shaking off the rust Friday night at the Oregon High Acaddemic Exposure Camp. There, he definitely made an impression with his all-around skills. He can play any one of the three backcourt spots and has the ability to even swing to the four if there’s a size mismatch. As evident his play is on the basketball floor, Hochsprung is still working on improving his game even more.
“I really want to transition to being a better shooter,” Hochsprung said. “I feel like I have that capability, I just need to put my time in it. Also, working on my ball-handling and my explosiveness – working on being able to explode above the rim more than I can right now.”
Largely because of the injury, Hochsprung’s college recruitment hasn’t quite heated up yet. He has however enjoyed talking with Willamette assistant coach Nathan Covill and is hoping that when he’s back on the court able to showcase his skills, the attention will increase even more.
“I’m looking to turn that switch on,” Hochsprung said. “I’m hoping to get some Division II looks and see where I can go from there, that’s my goal. I’m just looking for a solid program that has good relationships and has a comfortable feeling.”
Hochsprung noted that Seattle Select coach Chase Young has taken him on a tour of several of the Division III schools in the SIAC and NWC conferences, and he’s enjoyed getting a feel for what life as a college basketball student athlete would be at those institutions. While he’s not completely 100 percent on staying close to home, it is a draw for him.
“I really do like the Pacific Northwest because I like to be outside when I’m not in the gym,” Hochsprung said. “You’re by lots of rivers and mountains – it’s a beautiful area up here. But California is awesome too – I could picture being on the coast. I’m just exploring my options.”
Hochsprung and Seattle Select High Academic will be in action this weekend at The Hoop Memorial Day Classic.