Hard Work Region Preview: Hoops Intensity Training
Although it is still in the middle of the high school basketball season in Illinois we are already looking ahead to the travel team circuit this spring. We will be previewing the teams participating in the PrepHoops Circuit Hard Work Region over the next few months.
Below is our chat with Bill Baldridge of Hoops Intensity Training previewing this upcoming season!
Why did you start your program? How long have you been around?
Hoops Intensity Training or “H.I.T Basketball” started out as a skills and training academy. We started training so many high level players that their families asked if I would put a team together and coach them. So our training started in 2014 and we starting running teams in the spring of 2017. This fall the Chicago Suntimes rated the top 50 players in the Chicagoland area and we had 25% of those players workout with us. Our program has partnered with many local feeder programs to help in not only skill development but to also mentor their coaches. For our National HS Teams we are very lucky to have Todd Koering on our staff. Todd coaches our 16U team but his most important job is Director of College Recruiting for us. H.I.T is the only program in the state with a former Division 1 coach as it’s Director of College Recruiting. Todd is such a valuable tool for our parents.
What is the goal of your program for 2019?
We will have National Teams at the 15U, 16U, and 17U level for the first time this year. We competed very well last year on a national level and want to build on that for this year. We want to place all of our 17U players at the college level that they can thrive at.
What is the program’s mission each year?
Same as always. Teach our players the right way to play and develop. We preach at H.I.T that all of this training and playing has to be more than just about the basketball. If a player signs at Duke or he signs at a Division 3 school he will remember the dinners, bus rides, and hotel stays more than any game he has played in. It’s all about the relationships. Basketball is a small but great world if you treat it right. 2019 is a big year for us because it’s our first year playing 17U. We have had tremendous success at 15U and 16U and I expect to have a super year.
Do you know of any players that will be back in your program this year? Who should we have our eye on?
17U / 2020
Jack Baldridge 6’0 Timothy Christian
Taaj Davis 6’1 Aurora Christian
Marcus Skeete 6’5 Waubonsie Valley
Sammy Schultz 6’7 Oswego East
Colin Crothers 6’8 Benet
Grayson Goetz 6’1 Oswego East
Kevin Phillips 6’0 York
16U / 2021
Luke Braman 6’9 Roanoke Benson
Odin Lium 6’5 Oswego East
Grant Johnson 6’5 Naperville North
Tommy Craven 5’11 St. Charles East
Max Rivera 5’10 Nequa Valley
Liam Kim 5’11 Naperville North
Tyler Van Eekeren 6’5 Benet
Angelo Ognianov 6’3 Downers Grove South
Cash Rebarcak 6’5 Yorkville
15U / 2022
Trey Keizer 6’0 Timothy Christian
Nick Teune 6’8 Timothy Christian
Reggie Whitaker 6’1 Chicago Hope
Dylan Crowe 6’0 Glenbard East
Donald Davis 6’0 Glenbard North
Why did you choose the Prep Hoops Circuit?
Prep Hoops is a great platform for grassroots basketball. Also, stability and events that are run well are extremely important. The college coaches we speak with have great respect for the Prep Hoops events and their scouting service. H.I.T Basketball is extremely excited to be a part of The Prep Hoops Circuit.