Prospect Intro: Diang Gatlauk (2018)
Diang Gatlauk learned a lot this winter as the seniors in front of him at Sioux Falls Lincoln won a second straight state title for the Patriot program. The 6-foot-3 Gatlauk is a part of a 2018 Patriot group that…
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Continue ReadingDiang Gatlauk learned a lot this winter as the seniors in front of him at Sioux Falls Lincoln won a second straight state title for the Patriot program.
The 6-foot-3 Gatlauk is a part of a 2018 Patriot group that will likely keep them near the top of the mountain for the coming hears. Gatlauk and teammate Dillon Barrow are getting ready for future challenges by playing with the Pentagon National team that has won 11 of 14 games so far this year.
“Spring AAU basketball has gone pretty well so far for me,” Diang said. “A couple good experiences for me this spring would be getting to play against kids from different states instead of always playing against the same competition and just traveling and meeting new people.”
PHD was impressed with what we saw from Diang last summer when he was competing with the South Dakota United. Diang has made advancements in his game and wants to continue to do so this summer and it starts in the weight room.
“My main focus for this summer is trying to put on a lot of muscle,” Gatlauk. “I also want to improve on getting to the rim and finishing above the rim.”
For Gatlauk the 2015-16 was memorable both for his own personal reasons and for team reasons.
“The best moment for me last season was when I got moved up to varsity and scored my first varsity points. The best moment this year for our team would be when we won state as a seven seed.
Now Diang and his teammates (Barrow, Carson Coulter, Simon Higgason, Andrew Tverberg, Alex Glanzer) are in charge of things from here on out and are excited for what comes next.
“We really don’t have any true big guys besides for a couple of players but since we’re really small as a team I can see us being successful at full court defense and a 4 out 1 in offense,” Gatlauk said. “For our team to improve we’re going to have to play as a team and build our team chemistry.”
Gatlauk has spent a lot of time thinking about his future. He would like to play college basketball but if he doesn’t he also has things in mind about what to do if he can’t even though he has a couple years to figure things out.
“Yes definitely I want to play college basketball,” said Gatlauk. “I would love to accept a scholarship to any college that offers me. But if that doesn’t work out I’d love to go to USD or SDSU to further my education.
“Schools like Nebraska Wesleyan, Augustana, and Mount Marty have sent me camp invites. And North Dakota State watched a couple of my AAU games last spring.”