Prospect Update: Owen Coburn (2019)
After committing to South Dakota State ahead of his junior season and then forgoing his 17U offseason, Owen Coburn has been quietly flying under the radar of late.
That doesn’t mean the 6’10 senior center isn’t still one of Iowa’s most dominant big-men.
Coburn says he’s been working plenty on his own to continue and develop his game, and you can expect to see him out on the perimeter hitting some 3-balls this winter with Spirit Lake.
“I’ve been working on my jump-shot, and I had to do a lot of mechanical stuff to change that. I put 25 pounds on, I’ve been lifting four days a week. My ball-handling has gotten better, and shooting and finishing,” said Coburn.
“I’m just working on evolving my whole game, not just back-to-the-basket, but I have been working on that as well.”
For Spirit Lake, plenty of seniors graduated from a season ago, Alex Van Dyke, Frankie Ramos and Nick Christensen for example; Coburn will need to help fill their void, especially the leadership one.
“It helped a lot with me being at home the whole time, just being able to be at the workouts and all the open gyms, and to be able to get a feel for the new team,” said Coburn, who averaged 20.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last season.
“My role will be the same, except I’ll be more versatile and I’ll be able to step out and shoot the 3 this year. And I’ve never really had to be a leader, but I’ve been learning how to be a leader to these younger guys.”
A year from now, Coburn will be preparing for his freshman season at South Dakota State. As an early commit, he’s been able to forge a relationship with the program sooner than he otherwise would.
“(South Dakota State) is incredible, it’s easily the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I talk to the coaches a couple times a week, and having that relationship with them on and off the floor has been great,” said Coburn.
“And the guys on the team have been great. I’ve gotten so much closer with Matt (Mims) since he’s been up there and Mike Daum is somebody I look up to now. I’m not even there yet and it just feels like I’m part of the team”
Coburn added: “Coach (Otzelberger) is doing some great things with the team, and it’s so fun to go up there and work out and just chill with the guys; honestly it’s like a second family to me.”
Owen Coburn is ranked by Prep Hoops as a top 10 prospect in his class.