Recruiting Report: Kel Stotts (2017)
Kel Stotts’ offensive game isn’t just about his own point total. The Russell County junior guard knows the goal is for the Lakers to get it through the hoop. Stotts, who has played shooting guard and point guard for Russell…
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Continue ReadingKel Stotts’ offensive game isn’t just about his own point total.
The Russell County junior guard knows the goal is for the Lakers to get it through the hoop.
Stotts, who has played shooting guard and point guard for Russell County, calls himself “offensive-minded.”
“I can create my own shot, great shooter,” he said, asked to describe his own game. “When stuff starts collapsing on me, I can get (teammates) shots, just get me and my teammates open.”
The Lakers don’t report individual statistics to the KHSAA or to MaxPreps, but Stotts had 18.6 points per game last year as a sophomore.
That was Russell County’s first season under coach John Tinsley Sr., who favors a more up-tempo pace than did previous coach Willie Feldhaus, Stotts said.
“We have a great coach. He lets us play,” said Stotts of Tinsley. He also praised Feldhaus. “We get up and down. We have a good, hard schedule. (Tinsley) challenges us, so we return it. We give it all we got on the floor.”
Stotts has been working on his defense and improving athleticism, he says. He hopes an emphasis on one will improve the other.
“Defensively, I see myself as not the most athletic defensive player, but I know I can lock down and keep my player in front of me,” Stotts said, “just (with) the mentality of, ‘My player’s not gonna score. I’m getting a stop today,’ or, ‘This man’s not gonna go by me.’”
Stotts has offers from Kentucky Wesleyan and Maryville University of St. Louis, he said. He has interest from a host of Division I mid-majors — Miami (Ohio), Xavier, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State and Creighton, he listed.
He wants to improve the facets of his game that would allow him to be a more effective point guard.
“A lot I have to work on is really getting my foot speed (up), being able to guard, trying to transform myself into that 1, pass-first guard,” Stotts said, “work on ballhandling, work on athletic ability more.”