Recruiting Report: John Long (2017)
Montverde 2017 G John Long likes to be challenged on and off the basketball court. After transferring from Father Lopez to Montverde halfway through his junior season, Long is preparing for his first real playing time with his new team.…
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Continue ReadingMontverde 2017 G John Long likes to be challenged on and off the basketball court.
After transferring from Father Lopez to Montverde halfway through his junior season, Long is preparing for his first real playing time with his new team. The 6’3″, 190-pounder called the switch very necessary for him.
“I felt that it was better for my game to be playing with great players constantly. Also to have them push me everyday rather than play with a regular high school team and be the man.”
Simi Shittu and Cameron Healy are two guys that Long has learned a lot from since arriving at Montverde.
“Once I got to Montverde they showed me the ropes and caught me up with what I needed to know.”
Long says tearing his ACL prior to his freshman year and working diligently to recover from that has shaped him into the player that he is today. He says it gave him a lot of time to get stronger.
How would the combo guard break down his own game?
“A lot of people would classify me as a shooter but my game is a lot more than that. Yes, shooting is the best part of my game but I can also take it to the hole. My one or two dribble pull-up, step back is also deadly. The heavy pull-up is also one of my go to moves. My defense is one of the best parts of my game but what surprises people the most is my bounce and dunking ability.
Long plays for head coach Edward “Boobie” Francis and Nike South Beach 17U. He just finished his second season with them after wrapping things up in Orlando at the Super Showcase.
“The EYBL was such a great experience. It is truly unique. Coach Boobie is an amazing coach. He can really break down basketball so easily. He has also incorporated real life lessons into most practices. Very few coaches around that are quite like him. I’m lucky enough to have great coaching in EYBL and high school.”
Although he hasn’t earned an offer yet, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, South Alabama, Massachusets, Bowling Green, Navy, NJIT, James Madison, BYU, Creighton, Central Connecticut and Tennessee are all showing interest in the rising senior.
Long visited Tennessee last Friday.
A dangerous shooter and a very talented dribbler, Long has the attitude of a top-tier player. He’ll get a chance at the next level to showcase his abilities there’s no doubt it. Montverde will serve him well and make him a better all-around basketball player.