Prospect Profile: Jack Campion
Very few players caught my interest like Milton guard Jack Campion did this summer. That’s mainly because there were only a few guys that matched his competitiveness. There were times where Campion has been fairly intense. The times he slapped…
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Continue ReadingVery few players caught my interest like Milton guard Jack Campion did this summer. That’s mainly because there were only a few guys that matched his competitiveness.
There were times where Campion has been fairly intense. The times he slapped the floor on defense, or when Luke Haertle hit his game-winning three-pointer and Campion responded by yelling until he was red in the face, and even his clapping, which he did as if he was punishing his hands for not clapping hard enough. It’s those moments that add to his passionate persona. “I’ve learned that I’ve got to stay locked in, can’t get distracted,” Campion explained to me. “Being focused is huge, and when I step on the court I have a dog mentality, I just wanna go out and kill opponents with my intensity.”
On the floor, he’s a hyperactive, mildly ticked-off version of “Roadrunner”. Intense? Yep. Very, very fast? You betcha.
“I believe my strengths on the floor are getting out on transition, being able to use my speed and quickness to break defenders down,” Campion said. His unpredictable bursts of speed often kick-started motion on offense, and it’s the trait that makes him such a unique player to watch.
Campion is quick to get the game moving. After he hauled in rebounds, corralled an outlet pass, or even after a routine score and an in-bound, Campion could be seen racing towards the other baseline, almost unaware — or not caring — about the five defenders waiting on the other end. It was an innate thing for him. The constant pushing of pace caused pressure for the defense that suddenly had to deal with an attacking guard.
But fast-pacing occasionally bordered out-of-control play. “My weaknesses that I will need to improve on is knowing when I need to slow the game down,” Campion told me. “Sometimes I look to just run run run and need to realize the game needs to be slowed down.”
In the half-court, Campion is a pass-first player. “I get my teammates involved right away, get everyone moving the ball…I want to make not just me but everyone around me better,” he told me. It’s warranted, too. During his freshman season, he averaged 5.4 assists per game, a skill that colleges will be eager to swipe at.
College programs tend to seriously look at prospects in their junior and senior seasons, so it’s not a concern that they have yet to take an interest in the sophomore guard. It clear that it’s subject to change, both drastically and quickly. But, looking ahead, his short stature could be a pitfall. He’s 5’10” and a sophomore in high school, and questions surface if he’ll grow more or if he can he play collegiately at that height (To be clear he’s a surefire college talent, though those are just common concerns for smaller guards).
Campion doesn’t see size as much of a factor, though. “A lot of people think size is a huge thing,” Campion informed me. “In my perspective from being smaller, it really doesn’t give me an edge. I think I can guard a lot taller people than me. But with bigger defenders on me, I believe I can still blow by and create for my teammates.”
Overall, the 17th ranked sophomore and charismatic guard is someone who intrigues as a recruit. Campion is only a sophomore, and in spite of year-wide size and age gaps, he led his team in points, assists, and steals during his freshman season at Milton. His confidence and focus emit a unique and likable swagger. Regardless of circumstance, he plays basketball with a foot pressed hard on the gas pedal, and he’s a wary facilitator in the half-court. Look for the guard to become a stat-darling at Milton, where’s he’s already emerged as the lead dog on the box score.
Scouts have skimmed over him, likely awaiting for his age to warrant more official action. For now, just know that he’s the quintessential gritty, pass-first guard that are common the rosters of division one and division two programs.