Coach’s Take: Martin Brothers (Part I)
Tony Roe, Travis Hines and I certainly provided our fair share of player evaluations this spring and summer, but we thought we’d give the guys who know the kids best a chance to be vocal: the coaches. Hank Huddleson —…
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Continue ReadingTony Roe, Travis Hines and I certainly provided our fair share of player evaluations this spring and summer, but we thought we’d give the guys who know the kids best a chance to be vocal: the coaches.
Hank Huddleson — Martin Brothers Program Director
Jackson Joens, 6’5 G/F, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018)
“I’ve had a lot of talks with him and his parents and coach. He’s a very unique individual where he has a lot of ability to shoot the basketball, he has good size….but if he’s going to play at the highest level and play on the perimeter, he’s going to have to show a couple more things; one is guarding on the perimeter, and another is blowing by people on the perimeter versus just being known as a shooter. There were times when shot it well and he looked very, very good. And there were a few times when he didn’t shoot it well and he probably didn’t look as good, and I probably didn’t play him as much. He’s going to get recruited from about the Missouri Valley to Division II and anywhere in between. And depending on what position, and where he goes in the next 11 months as far as increasing his core and his lateral quickness, that will determine what level he ends up at.”
Joseph Evans, 6’8 PF, Dowling (2018)
“He’s a really good athlete, good frame, and I think as he’s grown up he’s been pigeonholed as a five, but I think he has some ability to do some more things. He has the length, and in open court situations he’s going to look better, because he’ll be able to get it, go up and finish. He’s got enough length and lift that he looks pretty impressive, though he hasn’t done that in traffic yet. I envision him also being able to play Division II to mid-major (D1) basketball and it depends on what he wants to be: does he try and be a three, does he want to be a four? He’s not a block player, he’s not a true three. I see him as a four-man that can do a variety of different things. I don’t think he’s done growing yet — and I mean growing height-wise and physically his body. And so I see a very high ceiling for him.”
Luke Vaske, 6′ PG, Norwalk (2018)
“Here’s another kid that has aspirations of playing at the Division I level, and I could see him as a (Missouri) Valley player and anywhere on down, depending on how much he wants to play, or play early. The fact that he can shoot the basketball is going to open up a lot of doors. I think he’s a point guard, and I think if he wants to play in the Valley he’s a good enough point guard and better-than-ample shooter. So whether he’s a pure point, or a combo guard, or a two that you roll into a one, he can do it.”
Matthew Mims, 5’11 PG, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018)
“I’m very impressed with his vocal-ness, his leadership. I think some schools will shy away because of his size. But when I look at his overall spring and summer I would say he got out a lot of I think what he wanted to accomplish. And I saw some growth. Do I think he’ll get more offers? Yes. That level (North Dakota) or higher, or as high as he’s gotten? Probably. Will higher, higher schools come in? I doubt that just because of his size. That being said, we’ve had some small guards in the past…and Mims is quick enough, he can go by people, he can guard, and he does enough things. There’s not a lot of guys I would trade for him.”
Van Rees, 6’6 SF, Sioux City East (2018)
“He’s one of my favorite players. He brings it, he brings it all the time….he’s going to shoot it, he’s going to go get it, gonna go get it on both ends, tough as nails. His thing is going to be what his perimeter skills look like, and will they improve. He’s probably going to get recruited Divsion II and low-major (D1). He’s the type of kid that he works so hard that he’s always going to have success no matter what position he’s playing. If I play him at the three he’s going to do everything in his power to get the win; diving on the floor, he doesn’t care who he’s got to go through. He’s more a 15-feet and in, rip it, attack the basket guy. (Former Iowa Hawkeye) Greg Brunner was like that. And the difference is Brunner was more of an explosive and powerful jumper that would dunk through stuff. And Van doesn’t have that power, Van needs to have space to jump. But Van reminds me of Brunner.