Prospect Profile: Gavin McGrath
Gavin McGrath is heading into a junior season that will feature him in all the pit-stops of a career-altering year. The near-seven-foot center has already reeled in interest from Appalachian State, Valpo, Miami Ohio, and UW Milwaukee. The Onalaska big…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGavin McGrath is heading into a junior season that will feature him in all the pit-stops of a career-altering year. The near-seven-foot center has already reeled in interest from Appalachian State, Valpo, Miami Ohio, and UW Milwaukee. The Onalaska big man also noted a visit to Green Bay and an unofficial visit to Valpo scheduled for this fall.
As a prospect, McGrath has more of a defined profile than the average center. Where other sinewy big men run the floor like Bambi in sneakers, McGrath possesses the adeptness to play significant minutes and contribute in ways beyond his size. And where other bigs tend to force action on offense, McGrath believes his defense trumps scoring stats. “I could have two points but still have a solid game because I had 7 blocks,” McGrath admitted to me. “Defense is honestly sometimes more fun than offense for me.”
It also helps to play within an organization like Wisconsin Playground Club. The purple-hued powerhouse has affiliated their name with recruiting as much as any program statewide, giving him a well-deserved grassroots spotlight.
This summer, McGrath became deep-seated in his interior skillset, but going forward he looks to broaden his horizons. “For me, I want to get more confident shooting the ball and gain weight,” McGrath said. He also told me he would be, “lifting 3-4 times per week at the school, and {playing} basketball whenever I can get in a gym, which is pretty much always.”
Maybe the most unique portion of McGrath’s junior agenda is his involvement in Onalaska’s bout with La Crosse Central. Onalaska has been sidestepped by the division two power time and again, as Central seized all three meet-ups last season. It’s a sour meet-up that has formed, at least from the losers standpoint, a bitter rivalry.
“I’m only speaking for myself but no we’re not friendly at all…We prepare more for that game than anyone else we play,” McGrath said, going on to list rebounding and Johnny Davis as the reasons for their shortcomings. But this season, McGrath will double as a blockade in the paint. Just being in the paint, arms sprawled out, could suppress what Central does best in their paint play. Who knows, a good rebounding night and a block or two could at least make things interesting.
Overall, McGrath is a true center with a ceiling that towers most of his junior peers. His defensive endeavors are a hit from left field, as it provides uniqueness to his profile and gives scouts a reason to admire his potential. Offensively, he has the frame to dominate down low, but as of now, his skillset is coming along as a dump-down option. I think his stock could burst next year, taking him from the low 30s and into the 20s in our 2021 rankings. But, rankings be damned, there’s a lot here for scouts to be eager about.