Prospect Spotlight: James Baker (2017)
James Baker is a rising senior forward out of Meade County High School in Louisville, Ky. The big-man plays with consistent energy on both ends of the court, shows a strong defensive presence and sends whatever comes by him into…
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Continue ReadingJames Baker is a rising senior forward out of Meade County High School in Louisville, Ky. The big-man plays with consistent energy on both ends of the court, shows a strong defensive presence and sends whatever comes by him into the bleachers.
“Rebounding and high post,” Baker said. “I block shots and rebound more than anything. I can do both, but it’s which ever one my Coach needs me to do at the time. This year my role will be a primary scorer. Last year my role was to score when Coach called on me. I like to get it in the high post and go one on one, left or right, and if there’s space, I shoot a 15-footer.
“Most points come off of offensive rebounds, too. Sometimes when there is a slow big-man on me, I just iso up top and go to work.”
Baker played a big role in the Green Wave’s success last season. The player averaged 12.1 points per game along with 9.2 rebounds. Baker also dished out a significant amount of assists. This year, Baker wants to, well, win.
“My goals this year are to win District and Region,” he stated. “I want to hopefully make a run at State. I want to get as many offers as I can in my last year and lead my team to a good season. I want to make Meade County a “known-program” and help my school make it to State – which hasn’t been done in a long time.”
This summer, Baker played AAU ball for Next Level. He performed well.
“I played for Next Level, and I performed pretty good,” Baker told me. “I scored and rebounded at a high level and played strong defense. Whoever the best player was, that’s who Coach wanted me to guard.”
In the classroom, the athlete says he is a hard worker.
“I’m a great student,” Baker said. “I work very hard in the classroom. I have a 4.14 GPA and I’m always working to improve because my grades are just as important as basketball.”
Meade County has a pretty strong year last season, according to Baker.
“Last year was a great year,” he said. “It was a fun and winning season, although we came up short in the Region Championship. “My role was to rebound, block shots, and some games be the primary scorer. We had a balanced team with 7 seniors. Tournament time was really when I stepped up my game because my teammates depended on me. In the beginning of the season my mid-range jumper wouldn’t fall, so I stayed after school and sometimes went before school and shot on The Gun.
“Sometimes I’d shoot 1,000 shots. When Tournament time came, I was on fire from mid-range. But all in all, last year was a great year for us.”
Although he hasn’t received his first offer yet, Baker says he has been shown interest from Tennessee State, Bellarmine and Transylvania, and says that college coaches should check him out because he has a lot to offer.
“College coaches should check my game out because I have a lot to offer to their programs,” he stated. “A coachable and willing-to-learn player, who will also work hard and wants to get better everyday.
“I play my heart out and I do whatever I need in order for the team to win.”