Prospect Spotlight: Hayden Passmore (2019)
Always an intriguing prospect, Linn-Mar wing Hayden Passmore is really starting to come into his own, and has established himself as one of the state’s premier defenders.
His offense, though, is coming along nicely, and the 6-foot-4 small forward could be one of the state’s better two-way players next season.
“My offense has improved tremendously, and I’m able to keep the defense honest by hitting shots behind the 3-point line,” said Passmore. “I’m continuing to try and improve offensively, working on my handles and shooting the ball.”
As a junior with the Lions, Passmore played off the bench, and averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. This season, the senior will have a much larger role with a Lions squad that hopes to be one of the better teams in 4A.
“Last year, I came off the bench and was more of a role player. I was there to guard some of the other team’s stronger players and score when open,” said Passmore.
“This year, I will be starting, and have a much bigger role, being my team’s best defender as well as becoming one of our top scores as seen in our summer team camps.”
One big reason Passmore has seen such improvement with his skill-set is his time spent with Iowa Barnstormers 17U Silver this summer. That was a premier squad in Iowa, and Passmore was one of the premier players on the team.
“He is what every single coach wants in a player; he defends well, he can guard a one through four, we would put him on the other team’s best player every game,” said Passmore’s grassroots coach, Tanner Carlson.
And the college interest is starting to pour in a s a result.
“I’ve received a couple D3 interests and have gone on a visit to St. Olaf college,” said Passmore earlier this summer. “I’m looking for interests in D2 schools and have just started talking with Upper Iowa.”
According to Carlson, whatever school does land the athletic and versatile forward, will be getting a guy who could make an immediate impact.
“He told me that a couple of Division II schools have reached out to him and also a couple of Division III and NAIAs” Carlson said in a recent phone interview. “He’s a high-academic kid, I’ve told some colleges that I’ve talked to, that he’s a kid that might play as a freshman, even if he never scores a point in a game.”
Carlson added: “He’s almost impossible to keep off the floor because of the way he guards and the way he passes, and the way he screens, and the way he gets extra possessions by being tough and flying in there for a rebound.”
Hayden Passmore is ranked by Prep Hoops as a top 150 prospect in his class.