Prospect Spotlight: Jai Mukraj (2020)
Another in stream of talented prospects is coming up through the West Des Moines Valley system. This one, 6-foot-4, 210 pound post turned guard Jai Mukraj.
The versatile 2020 prospect recently wrapped up his freshman season at Valley, and is now playing grassroots in the EYBL with Minnesota power Howard Pulley 15U.
Mukraj says he’s been working lately to fully transition from post to guard.
“This past offseason I really tried to improve my shot, I was coming from being a post player in junior high, so I really tried to improve the ball-handling and 3-point shot,” he said.
“I’m a big guy at 210 (pounds), so I just like to overpower my defender by getting physical and getting to the rim.”
Despite his high standing on the grassroots circuit — only the nation’s best players play in the EYBL — Mukraj was playing with the freshman at Valley last winter. He says it was a planned tactic to help him fully develop into a guard.
“I really wanted to hone in on the guard skills, and I thought that playing at a lower level would give me enough confidence to become a guard for next year on varsity. So this year was preparation for the next three years,” said Mukraj, who mentioned what his role might be for a loaded Valley team next season.
“I think I could play that three or four man off the bench and give us a little spark, play some tough D, and sort of be that energizer bunny for next year.”
In the meantime, he’ll continue with his 15U offseason.
In year’s past he played with the Iowa Barnstormers, and he was going to play with Mavs Purple this spring. Instead, he ended up with Howard Pulley.
“Back in February I reached out to Mr. Pulley and he told me to come up for the tryouts and I really played well in those and now I’m playing in the EYBL which is a really cool experience, basically playing against the best high school players in the country,” said Mukraj.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to play on the EYBL is because I wanted to play D1, and the goal for the summer is to pick up interest, whether it’s low-major, mid-major or high-major. I just need to perform in front of the right people at the right place.”