Xavier Booker’s remarkable rise came on Wednesday night at Mount Vernon HS in Fortville, Indiana.
culprit? Jet lag.
Booker, who just won the honor of the most valuable player at the famous Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas on Tuesday, returns to Indiana the next day for the Junior Indiana All-Star Team for an annual match against the Senior All-Star. I joined Mate.
However, his four points on a one-to-five shot in three turnovers against seniors are much like a player who changed from a sophomore reserve to one of the top 2023 players in the country. I didn’t.
Booker admitted on Wednesday that he was naturally tired, but he admitted that he was even part of his story. He could simply sit this down and rest for the Indiana All-Star Tournament this weekend. But Booker was with his team and said he wanted to play in front of his fans. Some have come to see the coveted 6’11 forward in almost every college program in the country.
Booker embraces the journey and the attention it brings to him. But it wasn’t long ago that he didn’t want the spotlight.
When talking to him a year ago, Booker can’t explain why he didn’t see the floor so much as a sophomore in Indianapolis Cathedral HS, even though he had an appetizing gift of nature. was. Even though he was quiet and had just begun to excel at the AAU circuit in the spring, he was reluctant to talk about his game.
How have my things changed?
Today, Booker is rated as a five-star prospect and fourth-placed player in the next senior class, according to 247Sports, and is far more confident of himself, both on and off the court.
The elements of the meteorite’s rise were partly work ethic, partly surrounding him, and partly that Booker and his coach embraced his strengths in court.
“I’m just working,” Booker told Day Reefer on Wednesday after the Senior All-Stars won 90-75.
“My self-confidence has greatly increased. I continue to work and am surrounded by a group of the right people who push me harder and harder every day, giving me the freedom to enjoy and play the game.”
Booker’s rise wasn’t as high as in sophomore, but he started playing in the George Hill All-Indy AAU program last spring and continued after his dominant late-season play pushed Catedral to the 4A title. I did.
Booker has both for guidance and guidance that has allowed scholarship offers from Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Michigan, Purdu, Notre Dame, Ohio, Lewisville, Texas, Auburn, and Oregon to land. Recognizes the achievements of the head coach of the program and many others, Michigan and many others.
“Definitely my man (George Hill coach) Mike Sanders, definitely coach (Jason) Delaney and the rest of the cathedral coach staff, and the entire George Hill organization, my parents, my brothers, everyone.” Booker said.
At his size, it would be easy for his coach to put him in a low block and let him post, but Sanders learned early on that Booker wasn’t your typical 6’11 player.
“When his dad introduced him to me, he actually disassembled his game and showed me.” I promised him. This is how you play, You play in a comfortable way. Seeing him make those decisions on his behalf, I think he can make mistakes. And learn from those mistakes and his Maximize your abilities. “
Bookers seem to be performing one after another at their travel destinations, including the USA National Training Camp, and there are several offers almost everywhere in the shoe circuit competitions where an independent AAU program can be found. I have.
Whirlwind adventures leave little time to even think about hiring, but Booker realizes that he needs to focus on that part by taking a break from school and a basketball break for at least June. doing.
“I’m going to start visiting here soon, and I just keep watching the school coming, and take all my visits, and finally it’s time for me to commit.” Said Booker.
Booker said Indiana feels like he’s working hard right now and is listening to several assistants with head coach Mike Woodson. One of his favorite things about Woodson’s message is that IU’s head coach isn’t afraid to tell him where the holes are in the game.
“He sometimes tells me to rebound more and tells me I need to be more aggressive and play harder,” Booker said.
“It’s a constructive criticism. You can see and feel it when you’re not rebounding or aggressive, and when you’re not working hard enough. I want him to really care and do my best. It’s good to say. “
Booker made an official visit to IU in the fall, but even after he has experienced everything since then, one aspect of that visit still stands out.
“It’s definitely just the bond I got with my coach,” Booker recalled staying in Bloomington in October. “It’s a family-type bond with them. They’re really cool people, they really seem to be my number one interest, and they really care about me.”
According to Saunders, Booker is working on a stretch four at a high major level. It is clear that his ability shoots 3 pointers and puts the ball on the floor. His appeal to both college coaches and the NBA is that he also loves the highlight reel dunks and plus 7 wingspan that regularly produces blocks.
The competition for bookers is fierce and seems to be intensifying every day.
What makes one program stand out in the end?
There’s a lot of the same thing that led him to this point — a coach who connects with him and believes in him.
“I just want to go to a school that fits all aspects of academic, athletic, coaching style, etc.,” says Booker. “I really know I belong to just trying to go to the school that suits me. The coach has my greatest concern in mind.”
Day leaf jar – “A place where Indiana fans get together when they’re not at the rally”
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