Recruiting Update: Justin Bieker (2019 Jesuit HS/Nike Team Northwest)
Things are trending up for Justin Bieker. The versatile 6-foot-5, 170-pound swingman from Jesuit High School finished up a solid AAU campaign with Nike Team Northwest this summer and after a little time off, is now getting things back on track with fall league action. Bieker is also taking care of business with the recruiting process as he’s talking to a number of different schools and is close to getting his first offer.
Bieker notes that he’s been talking to a number of schools. His goal has been to earn a walk-on spot at a West Coast Conference school, and after camping at St. Mary’s, one of their coaches is planning on coming out to watch him play this season. At the Division III level, he’s been talking with Menlo College, Pacific (Ore.), and Redlands. But it’s at the Division II level where he’s really been in talks with a school in California.
“I’m looking at taking an official visit down to (Academy of) Art University down in San Francisco,” Bieker said. “The last time I talked to (assistant coach) Ameer (Shamsud-din), he said he wanted to get me out there November-ish. It’s in downtown and a nice area to go school. In terms of basketball, they haven’t been too good in the past but they’ve brought in a couple of new assistant coaches, switched the program up a bit, and they’ve really turned some heads. It’s an exciting and up-and-coming program.”
Talks have gone so well for Bieker that a scholarship offer might be coming his way, which would give him some things to think about in terms of his future. “I think there’s a very good chance they end up offering me after the season,” Bieker said. “It would be my first offer if they pulled the trigger on me that would definitely mix things up. I would have a decision to make between a walk-on option and play at that level or get the scholarship. I’m not totally sure right now what I would do with that but right now I definitely want to pursue both options.”
In the meantime, Bieker is focused on preparing for the upcoming season. He’s been a standout in the Become Legendary fall league, enough to recently earn a spot in the Prime Time 40 Showcase this weekend. “We’ve struggled getting some guys out because of injuries and guys have been out of town,” Bieker said. “So we’ve kind of been shorthanded, but it’s been a chance for me to step up.”
Bieker currently ranks as the #34 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.