Prospect Update: Colton Harberts (2019)
An underrated big-man in Iowa, Dike-New Hartford’s Colton Harberts is a guy who might be one of the state’s best football players, but he can hoop,too.
A 6-foot-6 center, Harberts was very good last season with the Wolverines, and has been playing well this offseason with Martin Brothers 17U. He says his ability to dominate around the rim, but also to stretch his game outward is what’s made him such a threat the past couple seasons.
“I feel like I’m really good around the rim, but I need to work on finishing stronger. And I feel like for a big-man I have a really good outside game, I can shoot it well,” said Harberts.
As a junior at D-NH, Harberts averaged 16.5 points per game on an efficient 63 percent shooting. He also pulled down a team best 8.9 rebounds per game. But it was his leadership that was equally as vital to the team’s success.
“I needed to bring the intensity to practice for the younger guys, and show them what varsity practice was all about. If they went hard and got better, then that helped me get better,” said Harberts, who is looking forward to a big senior season.
“One of my goals next season is to break the school record for rebounding. I’m not too worried about scoring, I want to get the rebounds, and still score if I can.”
Ahead of what could be a dominant senior season for Harberts, he’ll play his summer ball with one of the Midwest’s best teams, Martin Brothers 17U.
“I really have loved being with the Martin Brothers, it’s been a great experience. Coming into high school practice after Martin Brothers, the game just seems a little slower, because with AAU, I’m going against a lot of Division I and Division II guys. It’s really fun,” said Harberts.
As for recruitment, he’s got lots of offers and schools looking at him for football; St. Cloud State, Minnesota State and Winona State have offered, South Dakota has offered him a preferred walk-on. But he’s hoping to get some basketball options soon, too.
He says the only coach he’s talked with is Jeff Horner from Truman State. And he’s been invited to a Central Michigan camp.
“My goal is to hopefully get some basketball offers and have some options to look at,” said Harberts.
“I’m leaning more towards football, but I would never take basketball out of consideration. I’ve just been focused more on my football recruiting because the basketball recruitment has been a little slow.”
Colton Harberts is ranked by Prep Hoops as a top 160 prospect in his class. To see the full ranking of Iowa’s 2019 class, click here.