Sept. 10, 2015 It was a long layoff from playing hoops for South Hamilton junior Collin Hill after breaking his leg last football season. After a spring shaking off some rust, though, Hill felt like old times. “I knew couldn’t…
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It was a long layoff from playing hoops for South Hamilton junior Collin Hill after breaking his leg last football season. After a spring shaking off some rust, though, Hill felt like old times.
“I knew couldn’t do as much as I could before (initially),” Hill told PHI. “I just did all my physical therapy and once I got that to 100 percent, I felt fine.”
He felt at his best when it mattered most playing for All Iowa Attack in the ever-important month of July.
“The last month of July went really good,” Hill said, “and I felt like I was back to my old self. And I felt like the coaches could see that.”
Hill, evaluating his July performance, said, “I felt like I played really well, especially with my regular (AIA) team. I felt like I led the team and played pretty good.”
That play has Drake, Northern Iowa, Western Illinois and South Dakota interested in Hill, who led the Hawks to the state tournament as a freshman while averaging a team-best 16.8 points on 48.4 percent shooting overall and a 38.4 percent mark from distance.
Hill has a visit to Cedar Falls planned on Monday to see UNI.
“I’ll probably go to Drake after that,” he said, “and visit South Dakota sometime.”
While he’s a high school season behind, Hill said most programs are taking the patient approach with his recruitment as they look to fill immediate holes.
“(UNI) said they really like me,” Hill said. “They’ve been talking to me a lot. I get letters from them every week. Them and Drake said they both want to see how the Class of 2016 turns out and then they’ll get back to me.”
Until then, Hill is champing at the bit to get back to playing for the Hawks.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “I can’t wait. We have four starters returning plus me and we’ve got a few younger kids.
“I feel like we’ll have a good season.”
April 7, 2015
April 7, 2015
By trushing
AMES — After a broken leg sustained last fall playing football made him spend his sophomore season rehabbing and watching from the sidelines, PHI’s 3rd-ranked 2017 Collin Hill returned to action last week at the Super 16 in Ames while playing with host team All-Iowa Attack 16U Nike.
Hill played well during the event and was the best player on his loaded team. We caught up with the 6-foot-4 wing last Friday night, and he shared with us some recruiting news, which included plenty of Division I interest.
“The top two right now are Drake and (Northern Iowa),” he said. “I visited Drake in December and that went good and a few months ago I went up to UNI and that went good.
“They showed a lot of interest. I’m just going to play this summer out and see how it goes and hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll have a lot of interest.”
Though he still holds no offers, he mentioned other D1s South Dakota, North Dakota State and Nebraska have been showing interest, though he admitted the process slowed after the injury.
“It’s kind of hard right now because I didn’t play high school season, but hopefully by the end of the summer I have one (offer), or I’m close to getting one,” said Hill.
Despite spending the season watching South Hamilton rather than playing, Hill says he was able to learn some valuable leadership qualities, and kept his shooting form intact.
“I think I developed as a leader actually, being out I just tried to help the guys out however I could, and also I did a lot of form shooting and stuff, so I came back shooting pretty good,” said Hill. “And the conditioning part, it’s coming back, and I feel pretty good — so I think I’m on the right track.”
He says he’d like to spend his 16U season getting back to the player he was before the injury.
“First off I just want to get better, I want to get back to my old self because I’m not where I was at the end of last year, but it’s going to be a process,” said Hill. “And hopefully by the end of the summer I’m further ahead than where I was last year.”
February 9, 2015
By thines21
JEWELL – One of the best players in the state has spent his sophomore season watching from the bench, but South Hamilton's Collin Hill is getting close to being back on the floor.
Hill, our third ranked in the Class of 2017, broke his leg playing quarterback for the Hawks this fall and is missing this entire season but he's making steady progress in his rehab. The 6-foot-4 wing player just recently began shooting exercises.
“Hopefully I can start running in a few weeks,” Hill told PHI on Saturday, “and after that hopefully I can start playing.”
Hill had a fantastic freshman year, averaging 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4 percent overall and 38.0 percent from 3-point range to lead the Hawks to their first state tournament appearance in 23 years. South Hamilton graduated a number of key contributors from that team and without Hill, has struggled to a 5-14 record this season.
“I've been waiting and watching the guys,” Hill said. “It's been killing me. It's tough but I'm just trying to encourage the guys. There's nothing we can do about this year. I've just got to encourage them and get ready for next year.”
Hill's immediate goal is to be ready to join his All Iowa Attack teammates for the start of AAU season.
“I think I'll be able to play in April,” he said. “I don't know if ill be 100 percent, but I think I'll be able to play.”
Unsurprisingly, Hill's recruitment has hit the brakes while he's been off the floor.
“It's gotten quiet since I got hurt,” he said, “which I kind of expected.”
“Hopefully it'll pick up once I start playing again.”
Hill, though, is ready to begin to show everyone that he hasn't lost a step after missing the follow-up performance to such a strong debut season.
“I've got a chip on my shoulder because everyone else has been playing,” he said. “I know there's probably a lot of people that think I'm not as good as I was but I'm just going to work really hard and get back, prove that I'm even better than what I was.”
April 1, 2014
By thines21
Even on a squad dominated by upperclassmen, South Hamilton freshman Collin Hill stood out in a major way.
Hill, PHI’s third-ranked prospect in the Class of 2017, helped lead the Hawks to their first state tournament appearance since 1991 last month.
“It’s been good,” Hill told PHI at Wells Fargo Arena. “I look up to the seniors so much and just to make it with them means a whole lot to me. Just to experience this, it’s been a wonderful time.”
The Hawks may have been bounced for the Class 2A tournament in the quarterfinals, but their future looks bright with the 6-foot-4 and versatile Hill returning next season.
Hill averaged 16.8 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting. He also converted at a 38 percent clip on 129 3-point shot attempts in his first varsity campaign. He also grabbed 5.6 boards per game.
“I’ll have to work on some different moves to get open because teams will probably going to have to guard me a little harder,” Hill said, “but we’re going to have plenty of guys that can step in next year. I’m still going to play as a team because I’m a team player.
“I’m still going to find my guys open, but I’ll have to work on some different.”
Recruiting hasn’t yet begun in earnest for Hill, but look for that to change this summer as he plays for All Iowa Attack.
“My goal for the summer is just get better,” Hill said, “get ready for next year because there’s a lot of areas I can work on.
“I’m never satisfied so I’m just going to keep going.”
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