Recruiting Report: Austin Ash (2017)

After winning the 3-point contest in a loaded field at the KC Hardwood Classic, and routinely starting on a stacked Barnstormers 16U squad this summer, Mount Vernon guard Austin Ash seems poised to breakout on the Iowa scene.  

The 6-foot junior has seen his recruitment start of late, and is currently seeing an array of interest from NAIA to Division II.

“I’ve gotten a couple letters from Grand View and they've been talking to me quite a bit. Also Morningside, and I’ve gotten a letter from Briar Cliff, and then Wayne State I’ve been talking to them quite a bit as well,” said Ash.

“I would say Grand View and Morningside are the two I’ve been hearing from the most.”

The sharpshooting 2017 says he learned to diversify his game more this spring and summer while playing against the nation’s best, and is now a more capable point guard.

“I became a more all-around player, not just coming in and shooting 3s but also bringing up the ball and getting us into our offense, finding other people shots and getting the ball into the post too,” said Ash.

“I like to push the ball and play fast. One of my strengths is being able to stretch out the floor and being able to shoot from pretty deep. Also I’m a pretty good passer in transition as well.”

“I would say my on-ball defense is something I need to improve, being able to slide quicker when people are trying to make a move against me.”

Strictly a shooting guard in the past, Ash sees himself evolving into more of a combo-guard role, and says he could see himself playing both positions at the next level.

“I could see myself moving to more of a point guard position, especially if I get stronger too, I could see myself being more of a one-two combo guard,” said Ash, who is looking to improve on his 9 points and 1.6 assists per game he averaged last season as a sophomore.

“I think my role will definitely increase a lot at Mount Vernon, and I’ll be playing a lot more than I did last year,” he said. “Also I’ll be playing more of the point guard position and scoring the ball more, and I want to get my assists up too.”