CHARLESTON -- There's no doubt Poca's Noah Cottrill has improved his basketball skills this summer, but it's his growth off the court that he's proud of the most.
CHARLESTON -- There's no doubt Poca's Noah Cottrill has improved his basketball skills this summer, but it's his growth off the court that he's proud of the most.
Cottrill has worked two youth basketball camps the past two weeks, including one this week put on by Poca boys basketball coach Allen Osborne.
"I enjoy working with the younger kids,'' said Cottrill, who has already verbally committed to West Virginia University.
"It's just an honor to see how much kids really look up to you and love playing. It's made me humble. It made me realize how much they really watch everything you do. Every day I've become a better person. It just builds character [and] it matures you a lot.''
Cottrill, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, was named to his second straight Class AA all-state first team after averaging 30.7 points as a sophomore this past season. Cottrill, who also added 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game, was rated the No. 34 sophomore in the nation by Hoop Scoop in the monthly publication "Basketball Times.''
There's nothing like a bunch of youngsters to bring you back down to earth.
"They wear me out,'' Cottrill said. "I teach individual offense. They' re always saying, 'Play with us, I want to guard you.'
"I remember when I was that age I loved paying. They love to be worked. It's the cutest thing when they get that look on their face, 'What is he talking about?' It's neat to see them grow.''
Cottrill has also seen his own game come of age this summer.
"I've improved so much,'' Cottrill said. "I've gotten a lot stronger [and] quicker. I'm really happy right now, but you can never be satisfied. I'm shooting the ball pretty well.
"I'm more consistent shooting off the dribble. If I'm not a better player every day, I'm not accomplishing anything.''
Cottrill said he works out every other day on his own and plays pickup games with Poca's returning players twice a week at the school's gym. He also plays with the AAU Ohio Basketball Club 16-and-under team and will be taking part in next week's Jam Fest in Morgantown and upcoming nationals in Orlando, Fla.
Cottrill said WVU coach Bob Huggins gave him only one edict this summer.
CHARLESTON -- There's no doubt Poca's Noah Cottrill has improved his basketball skills this summer, but it's his growth off the court that he's proud of the most.
Cottrill has worked two youth basketball camps the past two weeks, including one this week put on by Poca boys basketball coach Allen Osborne.
"I enjoy working with the younger kids,'' said Cottrill, who has already verbally committed to West Virginia University.
"It's just an honor to see how much kids really look up to you and love playing. It's made me humble. It made me realize how much they really watch everything you do. Every day I've become a better person. It just builds character [and] it matures you a lot.''
Cottrill, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, was named to his second straight Class AA all-state first team after averaging 30.7 points as a sophomore this past season. Cottrill, who also added 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game, was rated the No. 34 sophomore in the nation by Hoop Scoop in the monthly publication "Basketball Times.''
There's nothing like a bunch of youngsters to bring you back down to earth.
"They wear me out,'' Cottrill said. "I teach individual offense. They' re always saying, 'Play with us, I want to guard you.'
"I remember when I was that age I loved paying. They love to be worked. It's the cutest thing when they get that look on their face, 'What is he talking about?' It's neat to see them grow.''
Cottrill has also seen his own game come of age this summer.
"I've improved so much,'' Cottrill said. "I've gotten a lot stronger [and] quicker. I'm really happy right now, but you can never be satisfied. I'm shooting the ball pretty well.
"I'm more consistent shooting off the dribble. If I'm not a better player every day, I'm not accomplishing anything.''
Cottrill said he works out every other day on his own and plays pickup games with Poca's returning players twice a week at the school's gym. He also plays with the AAU Ohio Basketball Club 16-and-under team and will be taking part in next week's Jam Fest in Morgantown and upcoming nationals in Orlando, Fla.
Cottrill said WVU coach Bob Huggins gave him only one edict this summer.
"Basically [he] told me to have fun,'' Cottrill said. "I'm just pumped. I'm ready to get up there. I know where I want to go and that's where my heart is.''
nn
Chase Fischer, who gave a verbal commitment to Marshall coach Donnie Jones after just his freshman year at Ripley High, is also keeping a pretty busy schedule this summer.
Fischer and Noah Fischer, who is the better-known older brother, are in Louisville, Ky., this week playing in an AAU tournament with the Ohio Basketball Club's 17-and-under squad.
Chase Fischer's 15-and-under OBC team already has won three tournaments - the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, the adidas Take 5ive Classic in Cincinnati and the Bob Givens Classic in North Carolina - and is one of the top 15-and-under squads in the nation.
Chase Fischer said he and his brother will be gone pretty much the whole month playing in tournaments in Morgantown, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Chase, a 6-3 guard, averaged only 8.7 points last season, but has blossomed this spring and summer.
"I've been putting in extra time and playing against the best players in the nation so it's going to get you better,'' he said. "It's tough.
"You're playing against the top players in your grade. Most of them are bigger, faster and stronger than me. I've improved my strength, quickness [and] my jump shot off the dribble.''
John Fischer, the players' father, said Noah has narrowed his choices to mid-major Division I schools Bucknell, Fairfield, James Madison and Morehead State. Noah averaged 19.9 points as a junior at Ripley while earning Class AAA second-team all-state honors.
Chase Fischer said he has a great workout partner in his brother and said the pair spends about two hours working out in the morning, then they run in the afternoon, lift weights in the evening and work on shooting drills at night.
"That's what we live for,'' Chase Fischer said.
Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at 348-4811 or tatkin...@wvgazette.com.
Post a comment