Recruiting Report: Bennett Otto (2019)
Six-foot-3 junior-to-be Bennett Otto was a key Rebel figure in the state tournament last year, twice. Prep Hoops giving you some insight on the Champlin Park athlete.
In the basketball world we know Bennett is one of the few non-seniors that played for Champlin Park last year. He came off the bench to score four points a game for the Class AAAA runner-up.
Otto also quarterbacked the Rebel football team to state as a sophomore. Fifteen touchdown passes and a couple rushing against only six INTs. Through for 1,500 yards, ran for another 200, plus Otto was the punter.
And why not throw in there a spring and summer of playing basketball for the Howard Pulley 16u team that went 31-13.
“My year went really well this year,” Bennett told Northstar Hoops. “I played a lot of minutes and did anything we needed to do to win.
“One thing I got away from the competition this year was playing some of the best teams in the country at our age level in the EYBL. Another take away from the competition was being able to guard some highly recruited players.”
People know Otto has a level headed player that shoots well and competes tough. He has goals for his years as an upperclassmen.
“I would say ball handling is a big thing I want to work on, also just getting stronger and faster to be able to defend better and also get past defenders easier,” Bennett said.
Champlin Park lost guys to college basketball at several different levels. There are Rebels that went to high major hoops, that went to the NAIA level, junior college, and everywhere in between.
Don’t think that the Rebels are going to fall off too hard. Sure there will be a time period of change but Josiah Strong is a top 20-25 kid in the senior class, Otto is similar in his class, and the young talent at Champlin Park is strong.
“We have a lot of young talent coming up including me that are going to have step up and play different roles than last year,” Otto said. “We have two returners coming back being Josiah and I.
“We’re going to have make up a lot of ground losing the special class of seniors that we had last year. But we’re looking to find a way back to state title, but have to take small steps at a time.”
Otto mentioned that in basketball he’s hearing from North Dakota and Northern Iowa the most. At this point he wants college coaches to learn about him.
“(My goals are to) Mostly to get my name out there more and get my name on coaches’ radar. I want to be a big part of our team this year and accomplish many things.”