Recruiting Update: Malik Ross (2022 Tualatin)
Malik Ross Malik Ross 6'0" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR is enjoying the process. The strong 5-foot-11 rising senior at Tualatin continues to get recruited for both his talents on the gridiron and on the hardwood. He’s staying…
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Continue ReadingMalik Ross Malik Ross 6'0" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR is enjoying the process. The strong 5-foot-11 rising senior at Tualatin continues to get recruited for both his talents on the gridiron and on the hardwood. He’s staying open to both options but right now his focus is on hoops. Ross is running AAU with Elite 24 and he and his teammates recently returned from their first stop on the UAA Rise Circuit.
“It was a good experience,” Ross said. “We want to play against the best competition in the nation and getting the chance to do that, you’ve got to soak in the moment and you can’t take any opportunity you get for granted. You’ve got to leave everything on the floor with those teams and we played seven games, went 3-4, and all three (wins) it took everything we had in the gas tank. It’s just getting us ready for the next level.”
Playing at LakePoint Sports and during the first weekend of the July live period, Elite 24 got the opportunity to have many of their games in front of Division I college coaches. One game in particular reportedly had as many as 40+ coaches on the sidelines and Ross was well aware of who was watching.
“I think I’ve had maybe two other times when I’ve had to perform in front of that many coaches,” Ross said. “They’re there for the other teams so it puts a team on our team’s shoulder, us as individuals to go out there and compete and play even harder. They’re not there for us, so you’ve got to leave a mark, but at the end of the day you can’t be looking at these coaches watching us as pressure. You’ve got to just use it as motivation to play even harder.”
During the games, Ross did his usual – attack the basket, using his body to absorb contact, and also play at the point to help get others involved. But one area where he felt he really shined was on the other end of the floor where he matched up against some nationally ranked guards – including up-and-coming Brenden Moss of Kingdom Hoops.
“My goal of course was to not let him score and I think I did a pretty good job of that,” Ross said. “But he was tough. That’s what coaches want, they want a good player on the defensive end so me, trying to put one foot in front of the other and giving it all on the defensive end, it was a good goal for me. And I thought I did a pretty good job.”
Ross is hopeful that this month will amp up his college recruitment. In the past, he’s heard from schools such as San Diego State, New Mexico State, and UC Davis for hoops but more recently he notes that schools interested in him playing both football and basketball have been in contact, including some HBCUs. Football, basketball, both – everything right now is in play for him.
“I think I’m pretty good at football to keep my options open, but basketball has always been my number one,” Ross said. “I’m just open to the recruiting process – maybe they look at me for football but they’ll talk to me about basketball. I was thinking about the HBCUs and I think I might fit in a little more. There’s nothing wrong with going to a regular mid-major but HBCUs are great. People kind of get the talent level mixed up with them, but I think they have a lot of pro-level talent. So HBCUs, I’m looking at them the same way as I look at a regular mid-major school.”
The rest of July will may solidify some of the avenues for him. The next stop on the UAA Rise circuit is in Dallas and Ross is looking forward to the challenges ahead. “It’s another live period and it’s only five games, but it’s going to be even tougher,” Ross said. “We saw the teams on the schedule and it’s even tougher than this last tournament. We’ve got to all be ready and give it all out of the gas tank.”
As for himself, he’s focused on showing his continued improvement on his outside shot while continuing to do what he does well.
“Every team and every coach is looking for a certain player,” Ross said. “If I can do the two most important things, hit shots and play defense, that’s what most coaches want. But really everything if I can rebound, dive on the ground, obviously hit shots and work my butt off on the defensive end – every coach likes an all-around player, an all-around point guard.”
Ross currently ranks as the #9 ranked player in the recently updated PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2022 rankings.