Prospect Profile: Ty Rankin (2019 Grant HS/Rose City Rebels)
The end of the 2017-18 season ended in joy for Ty Rankin. Not only did the strong 6-foot-2, 15-pound combo guard help Grant win the 6A state championship, he got to hit the game-winning free throws to boot. But after some time of celebration it was back to business. Rankin has been playing on the EYBL circuit with the Rose City Rebels and it’s been a period of adjustment for the young man who has high expectations for himself.
“It’s been going good but I could be doing better,” Rankin said. “I feel like I can produce more on both ends of the floor. AAU ball has been different than high school as I have to change how I play, but I feel like I can have the basketball form around me better.”
Part of the adjustment for Rankin is with the Rebels he doesn’t have the ball in his hands as much as he does with Grant. He’s made the most out of his opportunities though, averaging 8.1 points while shooting a solid .429 from three-point range. He’s also been key on the glass ranking third on the team in rebounding at a 5.2 rpg clip and defensively he leads the team in steals at 1.4 per game.
A big benefit of playing on the EYBL circuit is Rankin has gotten the opportunity to play in front of a whole host of college coaches. A number of schools have gotten in contact with Rankin since the spring viewing period, notably Montana, Utah State, and Portland State. Rankin notes that all have said they’ll be watching him this summer, a time when he hopes to show even more of his game.
“I’m going to try and take a leadership role more seriously,” Rankin said. “I’m also going to work on my jumper even more – make it more knockdown than it already is. I also want to produce more on the defensive end, make it so that people score on me even less.”
As far as schools go, Rankin is wide open at this point but he described what he’s looking for in a college program. “I just want to go to a college where the coaching staff is all about their players,” Rankin said. “I want to go where they really want me for my game. I’m can score but I’m not really score first but I’m pass first. I can do both, it just depends on who’s on my team.”
Rankin and the Rebels have this weekend off but they’ll be back in action on the EYBL circuit at the famed Boo Williams Tournament Memorial Day Weekend. Rankin currently ranks as the #6 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.