Zach Radz Out to Prove His Worth

 

 

One word to describe the 5’10” junior guard from Troy High is well-rounded. On the court Zach is an undersized, yet tough guard who has a shooting range out to 22 feet. Off the court, he is a respectful, articulate kid who understands the importance of hard work.

 

            Over the past year, Zach has traveled to a number of elite camps and showcases. Most recently, he participated at the Future 150 National Camp, where he got great reviews on and off the court.

 

            “First off, Zach’s a great kid and incredibly coachable. He can shoot the ball and is an underrated passer. He’s a player that will help your team win games with his attitude and approach to the game,” said Brian Flinn, a Recruiting Analyst for Future 150.

 

            As for where he envisions Zach playing basketball after high school, “I see him ultimately being a nice low to mid-major player. It really depends on how his point guard skills come along, but I have no doubt that he will end up at a Division One program.”

 

            While the junior has impressed a number of coaches and college recruiters, the same cannot be said for his peers. Radz is often the subject of their criticism.. Some believe that he has been handed everything because of his father’s affiliation with Albany City Rocks.

 

            For those who believe that to be true, I would tell them they’re wrong. While he may have been given a number of opportunities to compete with and against some of the best competition from a young age, he has earned the right to continue based on his performances on the court.

 

            Radz has performed extremely well over the past year. He was voted Big Ten 10 Rookie of the Year, while also being named All-American Honorable Mention at the Future 150 National Camp because of his toughness, court vision, and ability to hit shots from all over the court. This type of resume has caught the attention of college coaches from schools such as Holy Cross, Columbia, Fordham, Cornell, Binghamton, and St. Peter’s. Unfortunately, the interest has not resulted in offers because of a knee injury that required surgery and wiped away his AAU season.

 

            Like most competitors, Zach understands he has parts of his game that need to improve in order for him to land a scholarship. “I need to improve my on-ball defense and I also need to develop a shorter memory,” said Zach. “This might result in a couple missed shots and some turnovers, but I just have to learn from those mistakes.”

 

            As Zach continues to work on his game and earn the respect of his peers, he is well aware of what people say about him, and understands he has something to prove. “I always feel I have something to prove when I’m playing, and there will always be people who doubt my abilities out in this world. I just can’t worry about the negative things those people say about me because if I let that bring me down, then I let them win. It’s all about how you take negatives and make them into positives. I have great people in my life.”

           

            That savvy demeanor, combined with the his basketball skills, is what should have Division One coaches flocking to Troy for the next year until he makes his college decision. In a society where kids often let attention get to their head, whether it be negative or positive, this 17- year-old continues to work with one thing in mind: getting better everyday

 

Staff-writer Derek Marchione