Recruiting Report: Jack Buckmelter (2016)

<p><strong>Jack Buckmelter</strong>, a member of the Billups Elite AAU program, tries to soak up every conversation he’s able to have with its namesake, Chauncey Billups. One pearl of wisdom from the former NBA Finals MVP especially sticks with him.</p><p>“He obviously played basketball at every level, and he said he never had more fun that when he was playing at George Washington, playing at the Thunderdome on Saturdays,” Buckmelter said of his conversations with Billups. “There were not worries. It was just basketball. You’re just playing.”</p> <p>Now, Buckmelter can relate. After sitting out the first part of the year following his transfer from Colorado Academy, Buckmelter suited up for Denver East as a junior last January and was blown away by the passion that surrounded the program.</p> <p>“It’s just the beast of the scene, how much people care about it,” Buckmelter said. “It’s just so much different. I love it.”</p> <p>Buckmelter will be a big part of that scene this season as he shifts into the point guard role to replace last season’s Colorado player of the year, Brian Carey, who is now playing college basketball at Texas Southern.</p> <p>Buckmelter is well regarded as a player who can light it up from just about any spot on the court. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 14.6 points in 16 games for the Angels last season, including a 41-point outburst in just his third game with the team. He shot 36 percent (32-of-90) from 3-point range.</p> <p>Now, he is eager to move into a position that allows him to not only score the ball but also control the offense that features a handful of talented prospects.</p> <p>The switch to point guard could also help Buckmelter’s college prospects. While he can shoot with the best of them, he also concedes that playing a two-guard spot at the college level and being forced to defend “6-foot-5 guys every day” could provide challenges. So he’s gone hard to work honing his ball-handling abilities to be the best point guard he can be this season.</p> <p>“I’ve always been able to play point guard, but I’ve always kind of been the shooter,” Buckmelter said. “Last year, obviously with Brian being the best player in the state, it was a unique situation. I was the running mate, not really the main guy. The years before, I was with Justin Bassey, who is also all-state. So this will be the first year where I can be that guy, which is exciting.”</p> <p>Buckmelter said he’s hopeful his play early this season can produce a Division I offer that has yet to come. If not, he is comfortable with his college prospects that would include the opportunity to play at a number of quality, high-academic Division III programs.</p> <p>For now, he’s ready to embrace a college-like atmosphere that surrounds East. And you can’t blame Buckmelter for being bullish on an Angels squad that boasts a number of top prospects like Deron Harrell, Samba Dioum, Joe Abiakam, Daytone Jennings and others.</p> <p>East will open up at home on Dec. 1 against Legend.</p> <p>“People will be pretty surprised,” Buckmelter said. “Even if were just returning last year we’d be good, but we have a lot of guys coming in. And I think we’ve all improved individually. I know I’ve improved a lot. Samba (Diom) has gotten a lot better. We’ve got Daytone (Jennings) who moved into our district. He’s a difference maker. We’re a lot better than people think.”</p>