Summer prep spotlight: Q&A with Nahshon Harper
La Joya Community rising junior Nahshon Harper sat down with Prep Hoops writer Eric Newman to discuss summer basketball, as well as what he is doing to put himself in the best position to be recruited to colleges.
Newman: How has summer basketball been, especially in recruiting that happens at this time?
Harper: I really just try to play defense and play within my game. If I’m getting steals and showing what I can do, the offense will come with it, not doing anything special I guess. If people are forcing it, I’ll try to create for others.
What do you need to keep working on to have success being recruiting to colleges?
I need to get bigger, stronger and work on my handles and jump shot. It’s really getting my all-around game better.
What are your strengths you already have that can be used at the college game?
I’m a good defender, and I always look to get my teammates the ball. And, so when I’m playing with even better college teammates I can help their games out. I also can knock down jump shots.
Point guards are increasingly important in basketball today. How do you try to stand out among so many good guards in Arizona?
I just continue to work, hopefully harder than everyone else, and get my teammates involved. Then I’ll worry about scoring after.
What kind of work are you putting in throughout the offseason?
First it’s the gym, working on shots, plays and one-on-one moves, then I hit the weights. And I try to just do as much as I can to get better.
Is it fun to play against some of the guys you know from club and your high school teams over the summer?
Yeah, I like playing against them because we can look at what each other needs to work on, and then we can continue to get better. After road trips we talk about how we could have done better and what we need to do.