Recruiting Update: Daniel Kovalev (2019 Lincoln HS)
Last season, Daniel Kovalev was a part of something special as Lincoln advanced to state and captured third place. This year the strong 6-foot, 175-pound point guard is playing a different role as he’s now counted upon for leadership both…
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Continue ReadingLast season, Daniel Kovalev was a part of something special as Lincoln advanced to state and captured third place. This year the strong 6-foot, 175-pound point guard is playing a different role as he’s now counted upon for leadership both on and off the floor. It’s a different team this season and now that he’s really got the ball in his hands a lot of time, Kovalev has been able to do his thing.
“The way the flow of game is going, that’s what I’ve been doing all season,” Kovalev said. “Whatever my team needs me to do, if they go man I’m going to do my thing and attack and I can get buckets but if they switch to zone, I can kick it out to our shooters.”
Kovalev is a tough point guard who can score and pass and while he’s not necessarily going to bomb away from three-point range, his outside has improved where he can keep defenses honest from that range. In particular this season he’s built good chemistry with fellow senior Ben Jeffers, who benefits from Kovalev’s kick-outs for wide open threes.
While Lincoln is clearly not having the same success as they did last year, Kovalev is hoping to put together a standout season to continue along his college recruitment – which actually is divided by the fact he’s also getting recruited to play football at the college level.
“I’m talking to some schools both football and basketball,” Kovalev said. “For basketball I’ve talked to Multnomah a little bit and for football, coaches have been coming in and out of the school and meeting with a bunch of guys.
Kovalev is keeping all options open when it comes to both schools and sports and is simply hoping to have fun his final year of prep basketball. “We’ve got a whole new team with seven new guys,” Kovalev said. “It’s going to be fun.”
Kovalev currently ranks as the #55 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.