Prospect Spotlight: Izaiah Hale (2019)
*Photo Credit to David Lewis* I think it’s fair to say that Izaiah Hale is an overlooked guard in the state of Kansas despite his ability to effect the game in many ways. He has been a big part of…
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Continue Reading*Photo Credit to David Lewis*
I think it’s fair to say that Izaiah Hale is an overlooked guard in the state of Kansas despite his ability to effect the game in many ways.
He has been a big part of the recent success at Wichita Heights, as they grabbed the City League title last year, have been to state twice in his varsity career and was honorable mention for the All-City League team in 2018. The 6’1” PG models his game off of Trae Young as he does some of the same things well as him on a much different scale.
While the legendary Coach Auer has had more successful seasons, Heights is 15-5 and has a talented enough bunch to make a deep run.
So what makes Hale so special? He describes his game as smooth and unselfish with an above average ability to shoot but also has the athleticism to get to the rack.
Having the opportunity to watch Hale multiple times over the past year or so, every time I leave a viewing, the word that resonates is “smooth.”
The young man is poised on the court with a good feel for the game. He doesn’t suffer from high risk turnovers or try to do too much but uses the fact that he started playing basketball in second grade to his advantage. He has a lot of muscle memory built and a lot of experience to draw from.
Izaiah is someone who can do more on the court than just facilitate, he does have a good shooting ability which not only applies from beyond the arc but the long lost midrange game is somewhere that Hale can hurt you from. His ability to be a dynamic guard and beat you in a multitude of ways is what will make him successful on the next level.
This summer he played with River City Elite Blue, an experience that was a lot of fun for him and gave him confidence outside of a more structured system like he would commonly see at Heights. He had more experiences using his talent to make plays and was able to sharpen up his man defense principles, as Heights will commonly run zone on a nightly basis.
Hale told me that Coach Auer has always preached the fundamentals to him, something he has taken to heart and made strides towards mastering. Hale has been being molded and shaped into a next level player since he started high school basketball.
What’s next for Izaiah Hale? Most certainly a basketball career through college as he has heard the most from Hutchinson CC, Coffeyville CC, Colby CC, and Friends University. He wants to be in a place next year that he can get a good education alongside development on the hardwood, potentially a school that would offer classes to go pre-med, as he has considered that route.
Finally, Hale says his parents inspire him most along with those he keeps close to him and in his circle.
“Everybody around me believes so much in me. I want to get better and fulfill the potential they see in me.”
Schools will most certainly continue to inquire as the season wraps up, especially if Heights is able to make a deep run in the state tournament as Izaiah will have to be a big part of their success.