Prospect Introduction: Tristan Goldstein (2021)
Toughness. That maybe the best word to describe 6-foot-5 junior Tristan Goldstein out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. Goldstein, a shooting guard, is in his first year with the Raiders after transferring from Cypress Bay in Weston. It…
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Continue ReadingToughness.
That maybe the best word to describe 6-foot-5 junior Tristan Goldstein out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. Goldstein, a shooting guard, is in his first year with the Raiders after transferring from Cypress Bay in Weston.
It was easy to tell Goldstein’s talent and work ethic in the Raiders first organized tryout. The scary note is that he is still developing, going on a different path before choosing basketball.
“When I was in kindergarten I started playing lacrosse,” said Goldstein. “I played lacrosse from then up until now. Last summer I took off from basketball and I played straight lacrosse. Basketball didn’t come a really big thing in my life until about eight grade. That’s when I started to get a little bit better and bigger. Once I got into ninth grade I played varsity as a freshman but it wasn’t really to score a lot but just to get ready. My sophomore year it was the same thing. It was still more lacrosse but now basketball has become a big part of my life. What I think when I come to the basketball court is that ball is a free education. That is the first thing I see because if someone wants it more than you I believe you don’t really want it.”
According to Goldstein, his father leaned on him to stick with lacrosse due to the easier access of a college scholarship with the amount of people that play. However, Goldstein followed his love for basketball on the hardwood over the grass fields of lacrosse.
From a first hand account, it looks like it is paying off.
Goldstein looked strong in day one of drills, using his 210-pound frame to body coaches around the low block. The junior also showcased his size and quickness around the baseline, squaring up before driving to the hoop for an easy lay-up. That pedigree is something Goldstein believes he can take from the lacrosse field to the hard court.
“I think playing lacrosse has just gotten me so much tougher,” said Goldstein. “My footwork is the same as a defender in lacrosse. It just translates so much onto the court, but grabbing a rebound is nothing compared to getting hit with a stick in the ribs.
Over the course of the 90-minute workout, Goldstein displayed an extremely high-motor getting up and down the floor to score with relative ease. He also was a force on the glass on two-on-one drills as the trail defender, altering offensive shots on drives into the lane.
Again, this was only the first day of a long season.
Goldstein is looking to add 10-15 pounds of muscle. He is also looking to work on his handles as more of a guard than a power forward. Both traits should make Goldstein a versatile nightmare for opposing players.
Goldstein previously played for NIKE Team Florida of the EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League). While that team broke up, Goldstein believes with more exposure and connections under Head Coach Ed Nelson that will help him for an AAU spot this summer. Nelson has a long basketball background, playing collegiality at Georgia Tech and UConn.
“Tristan is getting D-2 looks right now, but once he gets showcased and I send tape to coaches they are going to love him,” said Nelson. “I think I can send a tape to Coach Hurley and Tom Moore at UConn and they would take him in a heartbeat as a preferred walk-on.”
Aquinas faces a brutal schedule this year, matching up against basketball powers like Blanche Ely, Dillard, and Stranahan. Those tough opponents should be tailor-made for Goldstein who doesn’t mind mixing it up on the court. It is something he takes a bit from one of the games all-time greats.
“Larry Bird is a guy that comes to mind,” said Goldstein. This 6-foot-7 guy talking crap all the time. He didn’t care, he would just go out there and bust you every night. That is what I really like.”