Player Spotlight: Hudson Vanalfen
Position: Shooting guardHeight: 6’2Grad Class: 2024Club Team: Mustang Basketball Hudson is poised to have a stellar senior season and he has been waiting to get back on the floor to compete again. It has been awhile for him but he…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPosition: Shooting guard
Height: 6’2
Grad Class: 2024
Club Team: Mustang Basketball
Hudson is poised to have a stellar senior season and he has been waiting to get back on the floor to compete again. It has been awhile for him but he looks to make the best of it.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your injury.
Back in June of this summer I had double knee surgery to lengthen a ligament on the side of my knee called the Lateral Retinaculum. It was pulling my knee cap out of place and giving me chronic patellar tendinitis I had been playing through for years. My sophomore year I could barely jump without knife jabbing pain. It basically happened all because of genetics, and all the PT I tried to do never helped, so we went the surgery route
Q. How has your recovery been?
My recoveries been great! I’ve been working hard, and my PT has been scheduling me two, sometimes three workouts a day on an app to do on my own.
Q. What are some of the things you are working on in regards to your game?
I’ve been primarily focusing on strength training to build up the muscles in my legs. And the passed month I’ve been working on getting back in basketball shape just through doing more skill workouts with Keshawn Liggins, some 1v1’s, pool workouts, bike riding, and then some hill sprints. The pain in my knees has completely gone away from what it used to be. I think the surgery has been very successful so far and I’m super excited to see it translate this year, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to actually move without pain unlike last season.
Q. How long have you been out?
I’ve been out since June of this summer. It was really hard to have to watch my team compete in big tournaments and not be able to be apart of it. But I’d rather be healthy while we are going for a state championship in the season. So I decided to get the surgery right away.
Q,. What would you say is your biggest strength?
My biggest strength on the floor is definitely my shooting.
Q. Do you think your game resembles anyone in particular?
I would say my game would resemble a player like Klay Thompson.
Q. What have you missed the most from being out with an injury?
I’ve definitely missed my teammates, and just being able to compete with other people. It feels good to push myself to work hard at something, and for me that’s always been basketball. So it felt weird not being able to play and work hard at it like I normally would have.
Q. What is your goal for this upcoming season?
My main goal has always been and always will be to win the state championship here in Idaho. Eagle has never won a boys state basketball title ever. I’ve watched Eagle boys basketball struggle over the years, and fail at even reaching the tournament. But I’m excited for these next few years with Cody because the culture has changed here and it’s definitely one that can make a run and win it all.
Q. If you could tell a college coach what your game is like what would you say?
I would explain my game to a coach as a consistent and reliable three point shooter, off the dribble and off the catch. I feel like I can score on all three levels. Also I consider myself a very energetic player, and encouraging teammate. I’ll always give my best effort and leave it all out on the floor. I know how to lead my teammates and give them confidence. And I can create for others off the dribble, and consider myself a good playmaker.
Q. How do you see the high school season going?
I see my team doing very well this year. I think we are going to surprise some people, and could make a very deep run. Potentially even win it all. But we all have to buy in, and come together as a team to make it work.