Prospect Spotlight: Hayden Overby (2019)
Thompson was one of the top teams in Class B last season and should be among the state’s elite again this winter. Hayden Overby back to man the frontcourt is a big reason why.
Overby, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, averaged 13.5 points and eight rebounds in his junior year and is poised to take on an even bigger role this season. He spent the summer playing grassroots with ND Attack and showed he’s capable of hanging with the best all over the midwest.
“Playing with ND Attack this summer exceeded my expectations,” said Overby. “I had a great time playing with my teammates this summer and thought overall that we were pretty successful.”
Playing with and against top collections of players from all over the place was an incredible opportunity and presented a challenge that made Overby a better player.
“Getting to play with some of the top players in ND was a really cool experience,” said Overby. “We came to the team as strangers and even some of us as rivals, but we were able to build strong friendships throughout the summer. I think the competition helped us improve a lot. I feel like I got better at playing with more aggressiveness while staying under control. My outside shot improved but this is something I’d still like to develop more in order to be more consistent.”
Overby is a multi-sport star for the Tommies, excelling at not only basketball but also football and baseball. He’ll have a number of opportunities to do something at the college level. He’s not quite sure which one he’ll prioritize yet.
“I’m undecided on what I would like to do in college next year,” said Overby. “Fortunately I have the opportunity to play basketball, football and baseball so I am keeping an open mind at this point.”
College decisions will be made eventually but in the meantime, Overby is looking forward to what could be a special year in Thompson.
“I am very excited for this upcoming basketball season,” said Overby. “We had a decent season last year, just coming up short of a state tournament berth. I look forward to picking up where we left off and making this final season one to remember.”