Open Gym Report: Newberg Tigers
PrepHoops Oregon is hitting up open gyms in the Portland Metro area this next month to get an early look some of the top teams. Wednesday afternoon’s visit was to see the Newberg Tigers. Head coach Mark Brown has some returning experience that hopes to make some noise in the new Pacific Conference.
Here are observations on a few of players that were present:
Alex Jaczko (2019)
Jaczko is a 6-foot-5 forward who is extremely versatile offensively. He can post up and has a variety of moves or he can face the basket and create. In this open gym he was money from mid-range with pull-ups and turnaround shots. Despite the fact he’s a high scorer, Jaczko is efficient with his shots and isn’t a ball hog by any stretch of the imagination. A decent ball-handler, he often created for others as well as for himself. An outstanding student, Jaczko is currently investigating a number of D-III college options and we’ll have a update posted on him soon.
Jack Chlumak (2020)
Chlumak is a 6-foot-3 point guard who is not only blessed with height for the position but size as well. The son of a former Division I football player, Chlumak has a great set of shoulders and while already blessed with strength has the frame to put on even more pounds and muscle. He has always been adept at creating off the dribble and getting into the lane and that was still what he went to first in this workout, but he also showed that he’s been working hard this off-season on his perimeter shooting as he knocked down a couple of open threes and a few pull-up jumpers from beyond mid-range.
Kyle Kruse (2019)
Kruse is a 6-foot-5 post that is built like an offensive lineman. Interestingly enough, the senior doesn’t play football at all (he likes to fish) and on the basketball floor he is effective on the offensive end at spacing the floor because he’s got a great perimeter shot. He showed a great touch from 15 feet on out to three-point range especially when he was open and his feet were set. Kruse isn’t super mobile but he gets up and down the court well enough and he uses his size to clog up the middle on defense.
Luke Esmond (2020)
Esmond is a 5-foot-10 junior who is a natural point guard. He has a solid handle and he played very unselfishly in this workout but also displayed a nice touch from three-point range.