Recruiting report: Trey Sides (2019)

One of the state’s most overlooked prospects, Phillipsburg 2019 guard Trey Sides, has blown up throughout the summer while playing for Western Kansas Elite.

An athletic 6’1 guard, Sides can play either guard spot, make plays for himself off the bounce, as well as make plays for his teammates to score. He can also run off the ball and come off screens and knock down outside shots after the catch.

And defensively he likes to get after opponents and his quickness and athleticism allows him to put pressure of the opposing offense, causing turnovers and easy buckets in transition.

“I pride myself in rebounds and steals and I think that has really helped me become a better all around defensive player,” Sides said.

Sides competed for a high scoring WKE team this past summer and says the experience helped prepare him for the upcoming season and beyond.

“Playing for Coach Eddy and Coach Deel and WKE was a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents against higher level competition,” he says. “I enjoyed being around and playing ball with my teammates. The relationships I have made between my coaches and teammates was something special and definitely won’t be forgotten. 

“Getting into the gym and playing games was the big thing (and) I felt I learned a lot of things this summer that I can carry over to this winter when playing for my school team.”

A year ago, Sides averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.7 steals per game and says he spent much of the offseason working on improving his outside shooting touch.

“Last season I didn’t shoot as well from the floor as I would have liked, so I’ve worked on a lot of catch and shoot, and off the dribble 3s,” Sides said. “As well as pull-up jumpers and free throws. Another thing was getting stronger. Getting in the weight room has allowed me to finish through contact better that last year and has made me a more explosive athlete as well. 

“Playing this summer has helped me get the feel of defending and also using the pick and roll, which is where basketball is kinda trending, so being able to play against and using it has taught me a lot.” 

Sides says he began playing basketball as a youngster (age 3 or 4) and that his parents have had the biggest influence on his basketball career to date. His youth teams were often coached by his dad, and he says his mom was always supporting behind the scenes.

“Both have not only taught me, but have shown me that nothing comes easy, and if you truly want something, you have to work at it,” he says. “Seeing and hearing that has really pushed me to continue to work hard and go after my dream. 

“They have done so much for me and continue to drive me to be the best player and more importantly person that I can be.” 

A fan of the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Sides says he likes the way the guard shoots the ball from distance. At the college level, Sides says he enjoys watching Kansas State’s Barry Brown and his intensity at the defensive end of the floor.

“The tough angles is incredible to watch,” Sides said. “From him I’ve really tried to implement and use some of his shooting drills and his ball handling drills he does before games. I think they’ve helped me become a better ball handler and shooter. 

“I really enjoy watching how (Brown) plays defense. Usually he’s guarding the best guard on the court and a lot of the time he’s shutting them down. Just watching him and how hard and quick he is to jump a pass and can make plays on the offensive end too  is a joy to watch. He’s a player I would say I’d like to be like and model my game after.”

Although he has not yet drawn any offers, Sides has heard from several college programs, including Fort Hays, Cloud County, Bethel, Jacksonville University and a few others.