Recruiting Update: Antonio Salinas (2019 Zillah HS)
Antonio Salinas pretty much did it all at the high school level. The talented 6-foot-1, 170-pound point guard won two 1A titles with Zillah High School and this past year, earned tournament MVP honors to boot. So what’s next for…
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Continue ReadingAntonio Salinas pretty much did it all at the high school level. The talented 6-foot-1, 170-pound point guard won two 1A titles with Zillah High School and this past year, earned tournament MVP honors to boot. So what’s next for Salinas? He’s playing AAU ball this spring while looking over his options, which may continue to develop over the next month or so.
“Right now I’m visiting a handful of schools and I’ve been talking to people at pretty much every level,” Salinas said. “I’m just waiting out the process and enjoying it. Right now being in the position of not committing early it’s kind of cool because you have all these transfers going out and come next month and the next couple of weeks you’re going to have people out looking for guys and fortunately I’m still on the list.”
Schools that have Salinas on their list include Division II schools such as Western Washington – where Salinas will be visiting soon – while New Mexico and Oregon State have been in contact as well. “I’m open right now, 100 percent,” Salinas said. “If I have a D-II like Western Washington – I’m getting recruited hard by them and they want me to come in and play a big role for them, then I’m going to do that. But at the same time if I have the same role at a D-I, then it’s going to be the best fit.”
A Division I school of interest to Salnias is Oregon State for sure. “Coach Tinkle – I’ve been talking to him a lot and it would probably be a walk-on position if anything, which is OK,” Salinas said. “I work hard and I feel like I’ve known him for a long time, so hopefully I could work my way into it if I go there.”
As Salinas sorts things out, he’s playing AAU ball with Hoop Central Washington where he recently showed off his stuff at the Hoop Madness Spring Showcase in Salem. Salinas was doing it all – scoring at will hitting shots from deep or taking it to the hoop, while fearlessly leading his team with shifty ball-handling and pinpoint passing to cutters and open shooters on the perimeter.
“We’re a little different, as you can see we all stretch the floor and everyone can shoot it,” Salinas said. “Even our coach says we don’t pass the eye test, but at the same time if you leave us open we’re going to knock it down. I feel like we’re overlooked because we’re not a big name as you see we’re from the Yakima Valley and that’s it, but we’re going to come with the same energy that we bring down there.”
“My role with these guys is going to change every game,” he added. “I know that sometimes I’m going to have to give the rock away but I know that when I’m hot my teammates are going to give me the rock.”
Salinas currently ranks as the #26 player in the PrepHoops Washington Class of 2019 rankings.