Prospect Spotlight: Aidan Slater (2022 Central Catholic HS)
As they quip about some elite shooters, their range starts whenever they walk into the gym. You could just about say that for Aidan Slater Aidan Slater 6'1" | CG Central Catholic | 2022 State OR . The tough 6-foot-1,…
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Continue ReadingAs they quip about some elite shooters, their range starts whenever they walk into the gym. You could just about say that for Aidan Slater Aidan Slater 6'1" | CG Central Catholic | 2022 State OR . The tough 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard certainly proved that at Central Catholic this past season as his long bombs from well beyond the arc confounded opponents all season long. As Slater has continued to work on expanding his game, he remains dedicated to what he’s best known for.
“I put the hours in and I’m in the gym all the time,” Slater said. “I’m always working on my shot.”
As noted, Slater’s rep is as a shooter and it’s for good reason. He knows how to get to the right spot, catch the pass, square up and use a quick release to knock down the three. Slater was lethal off the bench – we all saw it in the Les Schwab Invitational – and by season’s end he had sank 36 threes while shooting it at a 45 percent clip.
“I felt like my sophomore year went well,” Slater said. “I believe I was happy with the role that I had on the team and we were winning games as a unit and I think we could have won state this year.”
While there’s no doubt Slater can shoot the heck out of the ball, the rising junior wants to be more than just a standstill shooter. “I am working on my basketball IQ, conditioning, finishing around the rim, and ball handling, I am still getting up 500 shots a day,” Slater said. “I have been getting into the gym a lot ad have been playing in open gyms all over.”
By being a more diversified player Slater knows he can best help his team. But it also makes him more attractive to college coaches and he notes that he’s gotten phone calls from schools such as Chaminade, Newman, and Northwest Nazarene. He has goals when it comes to his recruitment but he’s keeping all options open.
“I’m definitely trying to play Division I basketball and try to get a scholarship,” Slater said. “But I can play anywhere for college.”
When AAU basketball gets going again, Slater will be playing for a new team called the Northwest Spartans which will also feature a number of other Class of 2022 and 2023 prospects from around the Portland area. Slater currently ranks as the #12 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2022 rankings.