Recruiting report: James Norton (2016)
SPRINGFIELD — William Woods recruit James Norton plays without any fear. A 6-foot-1,180-pound guard, the Mexico 2016 guard that can handle the ball, shoot from deep and says he plays without looking over his shoulder. He helped lead the Bulldogs…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD — William Woods recruit James Norton plays without any fear.
A 6-foot-1,180-pound guard, the Mexico 2016 guard that can handle the ball, shoot from deep and says he plays without looking over his shoulder.
He helped lead the Bulldogs to a 10-13 record this past season, and was part of a Northeast All-Star team that competed this past weekend at the MBCA Challenge, held at Drury University in Springfield.
“I look to score the basketball, and I don’t have a conscience, so I don’t let mistakes take me out of my game,” he said.
Norton’s Northeast squad advanced to Saturday’s semifinal game where they were eventually beaten by a squad from South Central Missouri.
” It was a great experience getting to play in the Missouri Challenge with a group of good ball players who care about the game as much as I do,” Norton said. “I knew Will Rucker and Dallin Vorkink really well because we played in the same conference for four years and it’s always fun to battle against those two.
“It was a refreshing change playing with them.”
Norton said he has battled knee injuries that required knee surgeries his sophomore and junior summers, which kept him from competing in AAU basketball.
He chose William Woods over Missouri Valley and Hannibal-LaGrange.
“I felt like I fit in well with their system and their players,” he said. “I think William Woods is the best place for me to continue to develop my game and grow overall as a player. I considered Mo Valley, and HLGU but fell in love with WWU when I visited and met the team and coaching staff.”
Norton said coach Brennan Scanlon and trainer Dillon Shoemaker have had the biggest impact on his basketball career.
“Scanlon is the best coach I’ve ever played for because he knows how to get the best out of every one of his players and his desire to win is unmatched,” Norton said. “He’s like a father to me and he pushed me to become the player I am. Dillon was always down to get in the gym with me to lift or work on my game on the court at any time. He has put in countless hours of work with me and it’s a huge reason why I’m the player that I am.”
On the court, Norton says he looks up to James Harden because of his ability to put the ball in the basket.
“His footwork and change of pace dribble are crazy,” Norton said. “I try to emulate his step back because he gets so much space off such a simple movement. It’s a good weapon to have.”