Recruiting Report: Gob Gabriel (2019)
Every year, the Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest plays host to thousands including players, coaches and fans to showcase some of the best high school basketball talent around the country. This year’s event once again, didn’t disappoint. A name that was buzzing throughout the weekend was DC Blue Devils’ (NH) Gob Gabriel.
The 6-foot-8 wing displayed just how versatile he has become over the past year. Whether it was taking his man off the dribble from the top of the key, pulling up for three or finishing through contact around the rim, Gabriel was doing it and doing it well.
Working on becoming more of a complete player has been on Gabriel’s mind since his junior season ended.
“During this past high school season, I felt like I got better at being a play maker and getting my teammates involved,” Gabriel told Prep Hoops. “This spring and summer I want to work on my dribble drive and work on creating my own shot and getting to the rim more.”
So far, so good. At time this weekend, Gabriel seemed to be unguardable, but it was because he started off games by knocking down early three’s off the dribble. From there, he’d utilize a hesitation dribble and an infinite amount of combo moves following to blow by his defender and attack the rim.
“Throughout pick up I could always shoot it well from outside, but with my old AAU team I wasn’t used like that,” Gabriel stated. “Ever since I came here, coach gives me the green light and it gives me a lot more confidence in my shot.”
Basketball is in Gabriel’s bloodline. His older brother Wenyen plays for Kentucky. The 6-foot-9 sophomore averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds this past season. Weyen always reminded his little brother to never let anyone limit his skill set.
“Growing up, every time I was in the gym I was with him,” Gabriel explained. “He always just wanted to try and put me in the best position to succeed. I credit my versatility to him because he always told me not to let coaches mold me as just a big man and to work on playing like a guard.”
He didn’t limit his impact on the defensive end of the floor, either. Gabriel was shot blocker and disrupted plenty of attempts around the basket. To go with a 6-foot-8 frame, he has extremely long arms that help contest shots and also get deflections when playing the passing lanes off the ball.
Gabriel currently holds offers from Rutgers, St. Bonaventure, UMass-Lowell and New Hampshire with interest from George Washington. If he continues to play at a level he showed this weekend, expect this list to grow.
The 3.0 student plans on majoring in business once he gets to college.
📽️ Gob Gabriel (@Gobb25) of @dcbluedevilsNH one game highlights at Spring Jam Fest #HGJamfest pic.twitter.com/r2JGBVb78E
— Hoop Group (@TheHoopGroup) April 28, 2018