2018 F Marcus Hopkins discusses transfer to Oldsmar Christian
California and Florida are great places to live, but they are quite far from one another.
2018 forward Marcus Hopkins made the move to Florida this summer to play Oldsmar Christian. He was previously at Castro Valley High.
He says the decision was made so he could better himself as a young man and as a basketball player.
“This year at Oldsmar Christian as a role player I plan on doing whatever my team needs to win,” Hopkins told Prep Hoops Florida. “If that’s being a defensive big and protecting the rim I will. If that means to score the ball I will as long as we get the job done collectively I’m happy.”
The 6’10”, 225-pounder says he learned a lot about where he needed to be this past season in California.
“It was my best year of basketball I found a lot of success in my high school season and on the circuit,” Hopkins said. “The biggest thing I learned this past year as a player is that I have to be willing to sacrifice to get where I want to be. This means less free time and more gym and reps.
The biggest growth in my game in this past year was my footwork and defense. I have been working a lot on being able to be faster and less predictable in the post.”
Hopkins has played with Team Lillard the past two seasons in Oakland. He says it was one of the best decisions he’s made.
“They not only care for you as a player but as a young man and before anything else a student. My experience this summer was great on the Adidas Gauntlet,” he said. “I played against good competition and I had a great versatile team with amazing coaches.”
He called his dog mentality his biggest strength in terms having the will to win and ability to play shutdown defense. He’s aiming to improve his shooting range and his ball handling.
Hopkins has two offers currently from San Jose State and Alabama A&M. He’s also drawn interest from New Mexico State, Chico State, Metropolitan and Hawaii.
Coming to Florida to play for an elite program like Oldsmar Christian was a smart plan by Hopkins. Head coach John Bianchi knows how to bring guys together and make them better people and players. It will be fun to see the Eagles with a true big in Hopkins alongside a solid starting cast.