Recruiting Report: John Poulakidas (2021)
Neuqua Valley 2021 small forward John Poulakidas John Poulakidas 6'6" | SF Nequa Valley | 2021 State #155 Nation IL is one of the best juniors in the state. The angular lefty is a lethal scorer that can get buckets…
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Continue ReadingNeuqua Valley 2021 small forward John Poulakidas John Poulakidas 6'6" | SF Nequa Valley | 2021 State #155 Nation IL is one of the best juniors in the state. The angular lefty is a lethal scorer that can get buckets from all three levels. He had several huge games this year putting his team on his back and carrying them. One of the best pure shooters in the state that has an outstanding pull up game. Can create his shot for himself or drill threes off the catch. More than just a shooter he has a crafty game in the lane and has really improved as a ball handler. Willing passer when the defense collapses on him. Poulakidas spoke with PHI about his junior campaign from a team standpoint.
“As a team I think we exceeded everyone’s expectations at the beginning of the season for us. We won 25 games and won a regional championship which was Neuqua’s first in five years. As a group I think we all believe we could’ve made a deeper run in the post season, but we lost to a very talented Joliet West team who definitely would have made it to Peoria.”
How did he think he did personally?
“Individually I would say this season was very beneficial to me. Having to face a box and one and face guarding every game only made me a better player by forcing me to do the little things and it also forced me to work on my mental toughness so I wouldn’t get frustrated.”
He talked about the areas he saw the most growth.
“Definitely my ball handling, post-game, and moving/playing without the ball.”
Where do things stand with recruiting?
“I’m not close to making a decision anytime soon. I’m in contact with the schools that have offered me, but also with some that have just been showing interest. I was looking forward to a few visits after the season ended, but obviously with the virus outbreak all of that has gone out the window.”
He holds offers from Yale, George Washington, Wake Forest, Minnesota, Rutgers, Butler, TCU, Loyola, St. Louis, Princeton, Bradley, Brown, Miami (OH), UW-Milwaukee, UIC, and Southern Illinois. Also receiving significant interest from Stanford and Cal.
During the season Poulakidas took a trio of visits to Yale, Loyola, and Butler. He broke down each one of them with PHI.
Butler
“The atmosphere in Hinkle Fieldhouse is indescribable. Whether it’s a late night game or early afternoon game that crowd is electric. Coach Jordan and Coach Lowery as well as the rest of the staff are full of great people. They’ve also developed plenty of players at my position so I know I would be in very good hands there.”
Loyola
“I went for their home game against Illinois State and got a chance to catch up with the coaches for a while after it. Their new practice facility is really nice. They’ve been showing me a lot of love and I would fit in their system very well which is important to me.”
Yale
“It was great. I had previously met Coach Kingsley, but I was able to meet the rest of the staff and my dad and I had a really great conversation with Coach Jones. They were preaching their success in the last few seasons. Academics are important to me and it doesn’t get much better than Yale in that aspect of things. It’s in a great location and they were telling me how I could potentially play and be a factor my freshman year.”
What schools would he like to get out to once the NCAA allows visits again?
“Minnesota, Yale, Butler, Princeton, Wake Forest, TUC, and possibly some others.”
Poulakidas’ plan is to run with Meanstreets once the travel team circuit starts up!