Mikael Ashmore Talks Summer, Niche, and Oxbridge Basketball
PH: Which aspects of your game have grown the most this past summer?
MA: I would say my game has grown in all aspects. I missed a large portion of last season due to a high ankle sprain in camp. It lingered past January.
I’ve worked on all aspects, but I’ve really devoted extra time to mid-range and shooting off the dribble. Of course, I’ve developed my long range game and worked at driving to get to the hole and finish.
PH: What kind of role do you envision for yourself on this year’s team? What exactly does coach (Brandon) Strasburg expect from you?
MA: I see myself playing a good amount of minutes and contributing in every aspect. If I have to come off the bench I will provide scoring, rebounding, and relentless defense. Coach Brandon told me these very same things which I expect out of myself.
PH: How would you assess the returning talent you guys bring and who are some of the key newcomers you expect to play meaningful minutes this year at Oxbridge?
MA: Returning, we have four talented seniors and a small group of sophomores including myself. Ultimately, we all expect to go further than we did last year.
PH: How would you sum up the style the coaching staff likes to employ? What are some of the key concepts you guys emphasize as a team?
MA: This year, we want to play at a higher tempo and increase productivity with our scoring and how many points we put up a game. Coach Brandon also wants us to really clamp down defensively and bring hard nosed defense every game, consistently holding teams under their scoring average.
PH: Which tournaments, camps, and events were significant for you this summer?
MA: The Team Camp at Florida Gulf Coast University with Team Knight 17U mix was definitely one of them. I got a chance to play alongside older, talented players such as Bryan Greenlee (of The Rock School) and learned how to compete at a high level. I had a couple double doubles while playing alongside a lot of older, established teammates so that was memorable.
We were expecting Luke Anderson, who is committed to Iowa State, for the event but he had a change of plans at the last minute. I had a great FGCU Elite camp with coach (Michael) Fly. It was real important to compare my game with other elite players from my class.
PH: What’s it like playing alongside a big, imposing, and skilled forward in (Florida International commit) Dante Wilcox?
MA: It’s great playing with Dante because he brings that energy that makes everyone want to go hard, whether it is during lifting or out on the court. He’s a big impact to the team that we need.