Prospect Spotlight: Jamie Spinks (2019)
With a lengthy wingspan and a desire to compete on the defensive end, Des Moines Roosevelt sophomore Jamie Spinks has become one of 2019’s most intriguing prospects.
But the 6-foot-2 guard also excels on the gridiron, and he’ll spend the next year-and-a-half figuring out which would better suit him at the next level.
He says that on the hardwood, his defense and savvy separates him from others.
“I think that my defense is one of my higher qualities and I take pride in that; it started off shaky this season, but as the season progressed I got a lot better,” said Spinks. “I also think that passing the ball is a good quality, I think I have a high basketball IQ and move within the flow of the offense well.”
As a sophomore with the Roughriders, Spinks averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He took pride in his role off the bench as a spark for the team.
“In the beginning it was rough, but as the season went on and the game slowed down I got better,” said Spinks. “And my role was to just be like the Energizer Bunny; bringing energy to the team, making hustle plays, hyping the guys up and trying to be a contributor in any way that I can.”
Next season, the talented playmaker is hoping to become a better leader, and a guy his teammates can look up to.
“Next winter I hope to be a captain on the team and one of the major leaders,” he said. “I want to improve my shot and offensive game overall. I also want to improve my leadership role to the point where I don’t have to second guess anything, and guys will respect me when I tell them things without taking it too personal.”
Rather than playing grassroots ball this spring and summer, Spinks says he’ll be focusing on football, and his free safety skills.
He’ll get some basketball in though, especially during the June camps, when the ‘Riders are always active.
“I’m going to be focused on football, predominantly. But we are going to do a bunch of basketball tournaments in June, and we’re going to UNI to do a tournament,” said Spinks. “We have open gyms on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we run and play and get a lot of shots up.”
As for his college interests, well that’s a ways away for the junior-t0-be, but he says right football seems like a more logical choice.
“I try to keep an open mind, but at the same time, in my opinion and some of my coaches say that football will bring better opportunities,” said Spinks. “But if that doesn’t work out, I’m not closing the door on basketball. My goal since I was nine or 10 was to play a sport in college — so whatever that is, I want to achieve that.”