Prospect Spotlight: Griffin Yaklich (2020)
Sometimes we are lucky enough to have extraordinary talent move in from out of state. Saline High School gained an elite level player from Illinois when Griffin Yaklich moved to town. He’s a 6-3 sophomore guard who’s skill set and potential have been on display all season. Griffin Yaklich is the son of Luke Yaklich, an assistant basketball coach at the University of Michigan. It’s easy to see that Griffin is well versed in the game of basketball. He has had a stellar start to his time in Michigan high school basketball, averaging 16ppg, 4apg, and 3rpg.
Yaklich has a skill set that will put him on college coaches radars for the remainder of his high school career. He has outstanding court vision and has the ability to fit the ball in small spaces with accuracy. Yaklich is a strong ball handler, having a low turnover to assist ratio and effectively handling pressure defense. He is able to keep the game at whatever pace his team needs. Yaklich is a scorer as well. He is incredibly smooth and always seems to get the ball in the lane off the dribble. When in the lane, Yaklich can score, draw a foul, or hit an open teammate.
Griffin Yaklich is a young man who always strives to improve. He used the spring and summer to stay in the gym and play AAU basketball. “Playing on the UAA Circuit really helped because I was playing against some of the top players in my grade across the nation week in and week out which made me better,” said Yaklich.
Yaklich is already making waves in MIchigan high school basketball. He eagerly anticipates games against all of the Ann Arbor schools because of his friendships and familiarity with many of their players. “It’s always fun to go out and compete against those guys in fun environments,” said Yaklich. He wants to set records at Saline High School, play Division 1 college basketball, and then play professionally either in the U.S. or overseas.
Griffin Yaklich will be a highly sought after recruit over the next two and a half seasons. He will provide a college coach with a player who expects to get better everyday and has the work ethic to make that happen. Yaklich is a true point guard who makes his team better. At the next level he will continue to create looks at the basket for himself and find shots for his teammates. He will bring a unique understanding of the game to whatever program he chooses.
Griffin Yaklich is extremely motivated to accomplish his goals. His parents are his prime source of this motivation. “They do so much for me and they are constantly pushing me to get better and I appreciate that,” he said. Yaklich is appreciative of the time his dad spends rebounding for him and putting him through workouts. He is thankful for his mom and all the times she has driven him to the gym and across the country for tournaments.