Hustle Finals: High Academic D-III Prospects
The PrepHoops Circuit Hustle Region Finals was filled with talent, including a number of prospects who project as high academic Division III players at the college level. A number of D-III college coaches were in attendance to take in the…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepHoops Circuit Hustle Region Finals was filled with talent, including a number of prospects who project as high academic Division III players at the college level. A number of D-III college coaches were in attendance to take in the action and they most certainly came away with a number of guys to add to their recruiting lists for this upcoming high school season. Here are a few of these players we caught in action and caught up with.
Owen Koonce (2020 Centarus HS/Colorado Titans) – Koonce’s play was a big reason why the Titans made their run at the PrepHoops Circuit Hustle Region Finals 17U title. The 6-foot-4 wing/forward was steady with his mid-range game and his footwork impressed many observers on hand, including college coaches. Koonce noted that he’s been hearing from the Ivy League as well as D-II Metro State and his goal is to go D-I, but D-III coaches are hoping to convince him otherwise.
Jack Schultz (2020 Temecula Valley HS/Gamepoint Inland Empire) – Schultz was one of the most impressive shooters at the event and he was able to use his long and lanky 6-foot-3 frame to shoot over smaller defenders. He also was the highest D-III recruited player we chatted with as he noted that he was hearing from programs such as Whitman, Johns Hopkins, Lake Forest, among others as well as some interest from D-II Point Loma Nazarene.
Tyler Morris (2020 Point Loma HS/California Select Black) – Morris has solid size at 6-foot-7 and despite having smaller hands than your usual big man, soaked up rebounds like a sponge does to water especially on the defensive end. He also stepped out and hit some perimeter jumpers. At his size, he would be premium big man at the D-III level. Morris noted that he’s hearing from Willamette but also from D-II (transitioning to D-I) Dixie State.
Tommy Griffitts (2020 La Costa Canyon HS/California Select Red) – Griffitts at 6-foot-7 has some length to his body, and he ran the floor well and finished plays around the basket both hands. He also showed the ability to step out and hit perimeter jumpers. Griffitts projects to be a stretch four at the next level, and he noted that he has been in the most contact with Lake Forest and Pacific (Ore.).
Pete Boyle (2020 Boulder HS/Colorado Titans) – Boyle is long and lanky at 6-foot-8 and he was able to make some plays on both ends for the champion Titans. There’s no question he still has some physical development ahead of him but he ran the floor well and showed potential. His older brother Jack Boyle is entering his senior year at Pomona Pitzer and naturally the Sagehens have their eyes on the younger Boyle as well.
Gabe Springer (2020 Huntington Beach HS/Map Elite) – Springer is a native of Pennsylvania who played last season at Wallenpaupack HS but is looking at moving to California for his senior year. At 6-foot-6 the lefty ran the floor well, showed a willing to crash the boards, and was very active blocking shots on defense. Springer indicated that he was getting looked at by a number of D-III programs on the East Coast so it would figure that at least that level of interest should be coming once he gets settled in SoCal.
Guy Littlefield (2020 Forest Grove HS/Nevada Hard 2 Guard) – Littlefield played pure point guard for Nevada Hard 2 Guard and did a great job of penetrating and dishing it off to one of his big men for easy finishes. The 5-foot-11 senior from Oregon also showed the ability to score off the bounce, using his strength to absorb contact and finish. Littlefield, who sports a 3.8 GPA, noted that he’s hearing the most from in-town Pacific (Ore.) but other West Coast programs such as Redlands may get involved.
Cory Knutson (2020 Yorba Linda HS/OC Rain Craig) – Every team needs a no-nonsense, gritty kind of forward and that’s exactly what Knutson brought to the table at the PrepHoops Circuit Hustle Region Finals. The 6-foot-6 forward/post battled hard inside on every position but also showed the ability to face up and knock down mid-range to three-point shots. We didn’t get a chance to talk to Knutson directly but a coach in attendance commented to my colleague Nars Martinez that Knutson would make a perfect D-III big man.
Andrew Milot (2020 Balboa School/Gamepoint Inland Empire) – Milot really impressed us with his ability to use his quickness to get by defenders and finish around the basket in creative ways with both hands. The 5-foot-10 rising senior was very fast with his dribble and really excelled in transition, both with his own scoring and getting the ball to open teammates. Milot is another one we didn’t get a chance to chat with but we get the feeling that he’s the type of point guard up-tempo D-III programs should be seriously looking at.