Recruiting Report: Zach Pfaffenberger (2018)

<p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Zach Pfaffenberger, considered among the most promising big men in Virginia&#39;s 2018 class, will be attending a new school this season. The bruising 6&#39;8 sophomore power forward will be playing for Jim Fitzpatrick at Episcopal High School. He&#39;s optimistic about his role with his new team.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"I think It&#39;ll be a better fit for me. I&#39;ve heard good things about coach Fitzpatrick. I heard he likes to use the bigs a lot. I&#39;ll be expecting to get the ball a lot in the post" said Pfaffenberger.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">He will team up alongside a familiar face at Episcopal. Xavier Johnson, a 2019 point guard, who ran with Pfaffenberger this summer on the grassroots circuit, will be joining him this season</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"Xavier and I have a good chemistry. We played AAU ball together. He finds me a lot in the post, and in transition." he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Pfaffenberger is a physically dominant presence in the paint. He also has an exceptional work rate. His feel for the game is phenomenal, and he does not lack skill. He has an impressive approach.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"Defense first always. Defense creates my offense. I just start there, and then you know play hard. If I don&#39;t get the ball, shot goes up, I&#39;ll go get the rebound. I like to play alone. You know, beat up people, play hard down in the post. That&#39;s just how I like to play" he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Pfaffenberger elaborated on how his bigger role will impact his development. "My low post skills are pretty underrated. I can make jump shots also. If the ball is given to me, I&#39;ll do something with it."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Virginia, Davidson, and George Mason have all shown interest in Pfaffenberger. He doesn&#39;t hold an offer yet, but that will likely change very soon. "They tell my coaches they like how tough I am and how hard I play all the time. They like my style of play."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As he continues to grow physically and get stronger, Zach is also working hard to become more skilled.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"I&#39;ve been in the gym getting stronger, I&#39;m running to get in better shape. Training with Corey Alexander. Shooting free throws all the time, dribbling, doing a bunch of different things."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">With the tremendous upside he is showing on the court, Pfaffenberger has made it a point to work just as hard in the classroom. He currently owns a robust 3.4 GPA. "Grades are first in my family" he said, wisely.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">There are a lot of things to like about Zach Pfaffenberger. He is strong, skilled, hard-working, and intelligent. He is expected to be featured heavily at Episcopal, and could emerge into consideration as one of the more dominant big men in Virginia</span></span></p>