Gus Yalden Talks Early Success, Improvement
Gus Yalden didn’t gain traction as a prized basketball prospect through elementary tournaments and travel teams. The now 6-foot-8 forward lived hockey, also dabbling in tennis as a kid (two domains that differ significantly in physical necessity and style from…
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Continue ReadingGus Yalden didn’t gain traction as a prized basketball prospect through elementary tournaments and travel teams. The now 6-foot-8 forward lived hockey, also dabbling in tennis as a kid (two domains that differ significantly in physical necessity and style from basketball). It wasn’t until fifth grade when basketball came into the picture, and after moving to Wisconsin in middle school, he signed up for the team on a whim.
Three years passed, and the freshman-to-be will likely sit atop the 2023 class in next year’s rankings and is well ahead of the curve on the recruiting trail. Yalden was one of two freshmen who Wisconsin head coach Greg Guard had invited to their advanced camp, while Pennsylvania, Wright State, and others have also reached out to the big man.
“I was bigger than most everyone but I worked super hard in the basement on ball handling,” recalled Yalden. “From there I just kinda became a student of the game and committed all my time and energy into trying to get better…My mom never let me shoot a big ball on the high hoop when I was a kid so I always had good form so that helped, too.” Watching him play at last weekend’s WBY Tournament, it’s clear why he’s poised for a power-six school (or Gonzaga, his dream program). In the auxiliary gym at Kaukauna high school, he poured in 38 points on 8 treys, collected 10 rebounds, and tallied 7 blocks against a varsity squad (not bad for your transition to the high school level, huh?).
And a stuffed stat sheet is an accurate projection of his overall skill set.
Yalden is a modern day big — a credit to his versatility at his size. “So far it’s been a pretty nice transition,” said Yalden. “I draw a mismatch with the bigger 5’s and take out to the perimeter with pick and pop and the smaller bigs I take down low.” The mismatch is exactly what we’ve come to expect, as he could play the 3, 4, or 5 and thrive in each arena.
As a center, he’s a 6-foot-8 bar of soap. His height and frame make him a threat for dump-down passes, and he can weave through outstretched arms and clumped bodies with polished footwork and coordination. As a power forward, Yalden can defend multiple areas. An over 7-foot wingspan allows him to deflect, or at least disrupt shot attempts, and he’s agile enough to stick with the quicker bunch at the position. As a small forward, he separates himself. Not only can he be a catch-and-shoot guy, he also dribbles into pull-up jumpers and into the paint. Operating on the perimeter is what ultimately makes him a vaunted prospect.
And this all seems somewhat expected for a Blake Griffin trainee.
Yalden has recently committed to Team Griffin, Blake’s sponsored grassroots program headquartered in Oklahoma. “I get to get feedback from…Blake and Taylor Griffin,” said Yalden, who also hones his skills as the team barnstorms across the country. “Since we see a lot of zones and we have the size I’ve been told we plan to work on high low and more two-man games with me shooting or reading how that’s defended.”
He also works with hoops trainer Jose Winston. “We do footwork and ball handling but nothing is static. We are moving constantly. We do face up shooting and then incorporate footwork and ball handling into downhill attacks and counter moves off closeouts and change of direction,” said Yalden, who also participates in yoga, XLR8 (physical training), and gets up 1500 shots twice a week.
Again, you see the hard work that’s helped lay the foundation to his recruitment.
Yalden doesn’t have a summer job. His family doesn’t go on vacation. Instead, he travels for basketball, putting the game as the high highest priority. “I’ve been lucky that basketball has opened so many opportunities for me and I’m still pretty young. Having those experiences makes me appreciate the hard work and dedication and when you see the best and get to play with and against the best it keeps you humble and hungry…there is always someone in front of you to chase down.”