If you're 6-foot-3, possess plus athleticism and can shoot from distance as well as dribble-drive to the hoop, a decisive number imperative components are in place for both current and future basketball success. That's why it's important to catch 2018 Los Gatos High guard Alex Braken-Guelke in action this season because it's one in which he is breaking out and establishing himself as a solid college prospect.
Wildcat Coach Nick Ward is seeing the step forward. "A year ago, Alex was a slasher. This year, he has become a really good shooter. Playing with next level guys (Braken-Guelke's affiliation with the Top Flight Elite travel team) and seeing their work ethic has helped.
Ward continued, "Alex is explosive, quick and jumps out of the gym. He's the point man on our press and, when he puts his mind to it, is a good on-ball defender. Everyone sees it when he's 'on' and feeds off that and he makes his teammates better."
But the Braken-Guelke achievement Ward is most proud of is "Alex becoming a 4.0 student." He is also ahead of the classes required for NCAA eligibility.
Asked to name his top talents, Braken-Guelke offered "my speed, I'm one of the faster players and I love to drive."
There is also an unusual level of maturity and reasoning in play here. In an age where playing time and numbers are the twin significant others for basketball participants (and their parents), Braken/Guelke made a curious decision. He joined up with Top Flight Elite. His analysis? "Top Flight Elite is the best team in my area even if I don't get as much playing time as I want." That's because ahead of him in the rotation is Siena commit Jake Wojcik as well as Tyler Johnson and Angelo Athens. Practicing against those talents set up a 'get better or get buried' self ultimatum.There was also another factor involved in his decision -- "the coaching at Top Flight Elite."
Jamon Osby coaches that travel team. He offered this on Braken-Guelke: "Alex is arguably one of the best athletes on our team. He can compete for anything bcause of his athletic ability. He has always played up with more advanced other guys and he had a great July, especially in Vegas. Now he's a scorer and leader on his high school team." Braken-Guelke is averaging 18.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Osby, also an assistant varsity coach at Bellarmine College Prep, also highlighted aspects of Braken-Guelke's game that feed off each other -- outside shooting ability and going hard to the hoop. "You have to close out hard on Alex because of his shooting ability and that opens up him attacking the basketball and using his athletic ability to either finish above the rim or get fouled. If your athletic and can't shoot, defenses can sag off and, because Alex can do both, he is extremely hard to defend."
Another telling anecdote for Braken-Guelke is how he became a more well-rounded player. "My left hand has gotten a lot better since my freshman year because my JV coach suggested I begin to eat and brush my teeth lefthanded." Obviously that, in addition to performing lefty-centric basketball drills.
Coming from a soccer-playing family, he crossed over. "In the seventh grade, I changed and played basketball full-time. I liked it more because it's just super fast-paced and takes a lot of skills."
Braken-Guelke noted two highlights thus far in his basketball experience. One was my first in-game dunk two years ago during the summer and other was our loss (72-62) last year in the CCS semifinals to St. Ignatius. We found that we could run with that team."
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