Recruiting report: Jacob Gilyard (2017)
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Barstow 2017 point guard Jacob Gilyard is emerging as a serious contender for Missouri Player of the Year honors after helping Barstow capture the St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament championship over the weekend. A 5’7 2017 point…
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Continue ReadingOVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Barstow 2017 point guard Jacob Gilyard is emerging as a serious contender for Missouri Player of the Year honors after helping Barstow capture the St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament championship over the weekend.
A 5’7 2017 point guard, Gilyard averaged well over 30 points per game and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He helped Class 3 Barstow post wins over Columbia Battle in the opening round scoring 28 points, had 32 against St. Thomas Aquinas in the semifinals and poured in 39 against Blue Valley in the championship. Aquinas was the No. 1 ranked team in the latest Kansas 5A poll, while Blue Valley is widely considered to be among the top teams in the Kansas City area.
Leaning heavily on Gilyard for production and leadership, Barstow is now 11-4 this season despite suffering the graduation of several key seniors, including Jeriah Horne, Shea Rush and others.
“It’s definitely different overall this year but I don’t think my leadership role has changed at all,” Gilyard said. “As the point guard, I always will have to be the leader so I think I’ve always done that but this year it’s more noticeable and vocal. And almost the same for my game. I’ve always just been able to score but this year it’s a need in order for us to win.”
Gilyard honed his skills this summer while playing for KC Run GMC in the Under Armour circuit.
“The summer went really well for us as a team, we won a lot of games and played unselfish but for me it was just being an overall floor general,” Gilyard said. “Playing with so many different great players, I wanted to make sure I was a guy that made everybody better and win.”
He drew 17 NCAA Division I offers, but said he fell in love with Richmond after visiting the campus and opted to cut his recruiting short and commit to the Spiders after his visit.
“I think the basketball they offer in the A10 and the academic program they have was top notch in the country,” he said. “I thought it was the best opportunity for me. There’s a opportunity for me to go in and compete to play right away and that’s all I can ask for.”
Widely considered to be among the state’s premier defensive players, Gilyard said his play at the defensive end is a matter of pride.
“I like to make sure I’ll always have an impact on the game even if I’m struggling offensively,” he said. “I think my IQ plays a big part in my defense. I use my quickness and IQ to make it tough on anybody.”
Gilyard said former Columbia Hickman standout and current SMU sophomore Jimmy Whitt was his toughest cover.
“Granted he had size length and athleticism, but he hit tough shot after shot,” Gilyard said. “He was able to just rase up and he’s so bouncy that no matter who it was he was going to be able to get his shot off. But he didn’t take a play off offensively.”
Gilyard says he enjoys watching several different players compete and tries to take bit and pieces from each of their games
“I’d say I don’t have one particular person but I admire and input so many different ones,” Gilyard said. “Like Isiah Thomas’ toughness or CP3s IQ or Tyler Ulis’ craftiness or the separation that Damian Lillard can get. But I think I’m an all around true point guard with a high IQ.”