Nathan Bittle (2021 Crater HS/West Coast Elite)
The class of 2021 is projecting to be the best class in over a decade in the state of Oregon and at the top of that list (for the moment) is 6’9 post Nathan Bittle from Crater HS in southern Oregon. Bittle made a splash during his first prep season in helping to lead the Comets to the 5A state semifinals and has continued that stand out play into the AAU season culminating this week with an offer from Pac 12 power Oregon. We caught up with Bittle to get his thoughts on aau, recruiting, and more.
When asked about his experiences of playing on the Under Armour AAU circuit, Bittle replied “AAU has been going really well, it has far exceeded my expectations & the competition has been really good. I feel like that alone is making me a better player. Some of the highlights for me are being able to play with and meet new teammates, create new friends, and play in front of major college coaches.” The young (turned 15 in June) soph to be is in the middle of a hectic travel, having spent June playing all over Oregon with his high school teammates, spending the start of the July viewing period in Atlanta with camps and tournaments scheduled in Los Angeles and Las Vegas still planned. All of the hard work & travel has paid off, as Bittle recently picked up his first Power 5 conference offer when Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks offered. “We had been in regular contact with Oregon staff, especially Kevin Mckenna, so it was nice to get the offer. They have a lot to offer as a program.” Bittle had previously received offers from the University of Portland and Tulane and is hearing regularly from other programs such as Oregon State, Gonzaga, Portland State, and more. “I’m really going to be looking for a school that has a winning culture, fits my style of play, and a place where I can get a great education in something business related.”
When asked to assess his own game, Bittle was very honest about his strengths & weaknesses. “I believe some of my strengths are being able to face up to the rim and shoot from 20 feet out. I also have a high basketball IQ, and like to get my teammates involved with my passing. Some areas that for improvement are my ball handling, staying in an athletic stance, offensive rebounding, and finishing at the rim.” “Each year I need to keep getting better if I want to move to the next level, I can only rely on my length for so long.”
Prep Hoops Oregon Evaluation:
Nathan Bittle is a 6’9 (& growing) 2021 post from Crater HS in southern Oregon. His isolated location has kept him under the radar up until recently when he his recruiting has started to take off. He is a highly skilled big man with a hoops iq that is off the charts. He already displays the ability to shoot to range and has a good feel for playing in the pick & pop game. He has also shown himself to be a willing passer with tremendous court vision. Defensively, he uses his length effectively to protect the rim and has demonstrated an ability to contest shots while avoiding foul trouble. He must continue to improve his strength and athleticism to reach his full potential. Bittle is a player that should find himself on Top 100 lists nationally and is a player that will develop into a national level recruit by the time he graduates from high school.