Prospect Spotlight: Japannah Kellogg (2019)
One of the standouts from the Prep Hoops Top 25o Expo in Ames last weekend was 6-foot-5 forward Japannah Kellogg. Formerly a post player, Kellogg made a statement on Saturday — primarily with his handles and perimeter defense —…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOne of the standouts from the Prep Hoops Top 25o Expo in Ames last weekend was 6-foot-5 forward Japannah Kellogg.
Formerly a post player, Kellogg made a statement on Saturday — primarily with his handles and perimeter defense — that he is morphing successfully into a wing. And that’s just where he wants to be.
“I feel I’m good at attacking the basket and I’m currently working on my jump-shot and being more of a guard and less of a big-man. I can guard big people and I can guard guards; I consider myself pretty athletic. I can dunk the ball, and I’m pretty fast,” said Kellogg.
“I want to start developing at the perimeter because I don’t know how much more I’m going to grow, and most guards and small forwards are about my height or a little bit taller, so I want to be prepared for when I move on.”
This past spring and summer the Ames High School product played with one of Iowa’s best 15U squads, All Iowa Attack Red 15U. He says the transformation from big to wing started there.
“It was a cool experience going to Milwaukee and going to Kansas City and seeing the other teams,” he said. “At the start I played more of a power forward or center, and towards the end I was more of a power forward and small forward.”
Now he shifts his focus to his sophomore season, where he says he’ll play with the Little Cyclones’ varsity.
“I think Coach (Vance) Downs expects big things from me, he wants me to be more confident so I’m going to do that,” said Kellogg. “And during the summer leagues I was starting some, so I don’t know if I’ll start during the season but I’ve got to be ready for that.”
With two older sisters both earning Division I basketball scholarships after playing at Ames, Kellogg has set his goals on par with that, and being the best he can be each night out is how he plans to get there.
“My personal goal is to be the best player on the court at all times. Whether that be if I’m missing shots and just hustling, or if I’m making shots,” said Kellogg. “And I want to make it to a D1 school some day.”