Recruiting Report: Austin Hinkle (2017)
After winning a state title with one of the best senior point guards in the state last season, the Valley Tigers are seeking to fill the void left by Turner Scott. Senior Austin Hinkle is one piece that will help…
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Continue ReadingAfter winning a state title with one of the best senior point guards in the state last season, the Valley Tigers are seeking to fill the void left by Turner Scott.
Senior Austin Hinkle is one piece that will help fill those big shoes.
Hinkle says playing with and against Scott last season has helped him prepare for this opportunity.
“Well Turner was obviously a stud, so it was very difficult to guard him in practice, but it also helped me out a lot,” said Hinkle. “He was always giving us good points on how to get better.”
Hinkle comes into his senior season with the Tigers after helping them to yet another state football tournament this fall.
He racked up 429 yards on 34 catches this fall, leading Valley in both categories.
And though he says he may not play any sport in college, it’s football that he would pursue if anything.
“Right now I’m leaning towards just going to school, like a state school. But if I were to choose a sport it would be football because I would say I’m probably better at football,” said the 6-foot wide-receiver and point guard.
“Upper Iowa is looking at me quite a bit for football, and Minnesota State (Mankato) was looking at me for awhile, and Drake was looking at me a bit. Those were kind of the main ones I was focused on.”
He says as his senior season unfolds his future will become more clear, but that playing basketball at the next level is a long-shot.
“I love playing basketball and have a passion for it and stuff, but I just need to see how my senior season goes,” said Hinkle. “And I would have to have a kind of crazy change of heart during the middle of the season where I would figure out that I want to keep going with basketball.”
With his senior season getting ready to begin, Hinkle mentioned to PHIA what he’ll bring to the table for the defending 4A champs this winter.
“I would say the big thing for me is effort, that would be the main word to describe me, and then defense, those are the things that separate me,” said Hinkle.
“I worked a lot during the summer on my outside shooting, so hopefully I can show that this season with Valley.”