Recruiting Report: Brendan Hayes (2018)
Mountlake Terrace 6-foot-5 stretch-forward Brendan Hayes has been spending his career manning the paint, but may be better served as a wing at the next level.
At 6’5 he has the size to be a formidable force in the post, but at the next level, he’d be an undersized big. It’s a good thing he already possesses the necessary skills to move out to the perimeter.
Some D3s, D2s, and JuCos have recognized Hayes’ prowess as a versatile stretch-four.
“The Pacific Lutheran coach contacted me not too long ago, and I have a visit over there soon. And there’s’ a school in Wisconsin (Beloit), as well as some other community colleges and some D2s and D3s from the area looking at me,” said Hayes, who says he wouldn’t mind taking a JuCo route if need be.
“If no D2 or D3 schools offer me than that two year route would probably be a good route for me.”
Though he’s an established post player at this high school level, Hayes says he’ll be more than comfortable playing out on the wing at the next level, as a good-sized small forward.
“In college, I’ll definitely play more of a wing position or a combo-forward. Just because I feel like I’m best around the wing area. I’ve been working on my moves and my speed and all that,” he said.
“Last year, my coach had me in more of a post role, because we didn’t have any big men so I had to be down in the post. So I couldn’t use my shot much, but that’s my main attack on offense, is my shot.”
This summer, with North City Elite 17U, Hayes played in the post, but also used his time to boost his perimeter skill-set.
“Usually, what I like to do is a one-dribble pull-up, and I’m pretty deadly from 3. Over the summer I shot 43 percent from 3. And I’ve been working on my dribbling and shooting, just fine-tuning it a little bit more,” he said.
“I did pretty well rebonding the ball, blocking shots, and then overall just providing a guy in the center of the paint defensively. I didn’t get as many shooting opportunities as I wanted, but I had to play the way my coach wanted me to, as a dominant power forward.”
As he heads into his final season with Mountlake Terrace, Hayes says his role will be to control the paint, both offensively and defensively.
“Just because of my height and my size, I’ll play more of a post role for them this season,“ said Hayes.
“I’m hoping to prove myself my senior year, and get as many scoring opportunities as I can, as well as prove myself on the defensive end. Just so I can show theses recruits who I am and what I am and hopefully get some offers.”