Prospect Spotlight: Luke Winkler (2021 Grant)
A high academic student, Luke Winkler Luke Winkler 5'10" | CG Grant | 2021 State OR could easily be attending school next fall at a four-year school. But the gritty 5-foot-11, 170-pound point guard wants a chance to play college…
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Continue ReadingA high academic student, Luke Winkler Luke Winkler 5'10" | CG Grant | 2021 State OR could easily be attending school next fall at a four-year school. But the gritty 5-foot-11, 170-pound point guard wants a chance to play college ball and is hoping to decide on a destination for that soon. He and his Grant teammates recently captured the first-ever Oregon Madness title and it was an experience that he’ll not soon forget.
“It was fun playing here, especially in this new facility here in Salem,” Winkler said. “Especially after losing to Beaverton, we had the opportunity to finish on a win which is always nice.”
Winkler played a big part in the win as the steady hand at the point. He averaged over five assists in the four games played and ended up named on the All-Tournament Second Team. The tournament was indicative of how he played all year, one in which Grant finished up an impressive 14-3 on the year.
“I felt it went good especially with how it was structured,” Winkler said. “I think we performed really, really well. A lot of people didn’t think we would be that good this year, but we really came together as a team and did something special.”
Individually, Winkler elevated into a starting role at the point. His floor leadership was particularly evident at Oregon Madness as he was a vocal leader on both ends and made good decisions with the basketball, whether it was the pass, the drive, or knocking down the open shot.
“All of quarantine I was working out, didn’t know what was going to happen but I knew I wanted to play at the next level,” Winkler said. “So I was ready to fill a role that I thought that we needed which was being a one guard, being scrappy on defense, and it worked out great this year.”
In terms of the next level, Winkler had been accepted into Seattle as a regular student but has instead settled on going to a school so he can continue playing. So far, either he or the Grant coaches have been talking to North Idaho, Clackamas, Columbia Basin, and Portland CC and he recently received a roster spot offer from Pacific. With the season now fully over, he’s hoping to take some campus visits, including North Idaho.
“I’m just looking for this one chance to prove myself at the next level,” Winkler said. “I’m hoping to have a decision soon.”
Winkler currently ranks as the #64 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2021 rankings.