Joe Girard III Already Turning Heads

 

Despite not even having had his first day of high school yet, Joe Girard III is already one of Section II’s best players, and has division one teams lining up to try and bring him on board once his high school career is over.

Girard III played varsity for Glens Falls last season as an eighth grader and was already the team’s leading scorer and a dominant presence in the Foothills Conference. Despite the age gap, Girard III said in a recent interview with Upstate Scouting Service that  he was prepared for the jump. “I just went out and played like I was a junior or senior, and I was supposed to be up there. I’m pretty athletic, so it wasn’t much of a difference to play against the bigger kids, and I can defend to. I just went out and locked my guy down and just played my heart out.”

Girard III has been gaining notice as a basketball talent for several years now. He competed in the Elks Hoop Shoot National Free Throw Competition for several years. After coming up short his first year, Girard III’s father, Joe Girard Jr., says even as a nine-year old, he became motivated to achieve greatness. “It’s funny, he started out as a nine year old with it and he won the local competition and then lost in the district competition, to where he probably shouldn’t have lost. From that point it sort of just clicked with him where it fueled the fire that he was just determined to that following year to go farther and the year after that to go farther.”

Girard III did indeed go farther the next year, advancing all the way to the national semifinals. When he was 11, he won the national championship. By the time he was done at the age of 13, Girard III had won the New York State championship four times, advanced to the national semifinals three times, and won it all once.

Girard Jr., says it was his son’s mental toughness at set him apart from the competition. “Joseph does not like to lose, we’ve taught him to how channel that sportsmanship wise. But again, he has an uncanny way of refusing to lose, and if I do I’m going to come back hungrier and opposed to pouting or being disappointed.”

Girard III has taken experience in the Elks Hoops competitions into his real game as now, despite his age, he feels comfortable with the ball in his hands at the end of the game. “I’m always thinking about it, especially at the end of the game when the other team is trying to foul us. I’m always coming back to get the ball, since my ball handling is better now, I have to come back and get the ball so when they foul me, I’ll be the one on the line. My team knows to get me the ball at the end of the game.”

Both Girard III and his father admit there were some initial reservations from his teammates about taking a leadership role, but they say that is behind them and that his Indians’ teammates now trust him and recognize his abilities. Girard III says that this year he is looking to set an example for his teammates this upcoming season. “Being a freshman it will be different, but I know I can do it and all the guys I know try and look up to me and try and fuel off my fire.”

“The freshman thing is just a number right now, so we’re through that phase,” added Girard Jr., “They expect big things from them. They’ve seen the success he’s had this past spring and summer nationally, I think it’s sort of everybody understands now that regardless that he’s a freshman or senior that he’s going to be the guy that’s got to lead this team next year.”

In the offseason, Girard III has been playing the AAU circuit for the Albany City Rocks as well as making a name for himself in events such as the CP3 Rising Stars Challenge, where he was selected as a Top-40 all-star rising freshman.

Girard III says he has been working out with his father in the offseason several times a week working on all aspects of his game. Particularly, he cites ball handling as a skill he has been improving on since the end of the 2014-15 season.

Girard III is a natural scorer who can create his own shot and hit it from anywhere in the gym. Now with the added ball handling ability, he should be able to take the game to the next level and improve even more on creating space for his jump shot and getting to the basket, where he can utilize hi s free throw prowess.

Although he’s only 14, the recruiting process has already begun for Girard III with an offer from High Point in the Big South already on the table. His father cites Michigan, Siena, Marist, Vermont, James Madison, and Davidson as schools that have expressed some level of interest at this point.

Girard Jr. played for head coach John Beilein when he was the coach at LeMoyne in Syracuse, and both Girard’s are hopeful that they can continue that tradition by having Girard III follow in his father’s’ footsteps and play at Michigan under coach Beilein.

“Michigan is definitely the goal,” said Girard III. “I’ve always wanted to go there since Coach Beilein left from West Virginia, and they’ve been pretty good lately, especially making it to the finals a couple of years ago and making good runs in the tournament. It would be very cool to go there.”

While playing for the Wolverines may be the end goal right now,, Girard III knows there is a long way to go before that point and they both insist he is keeping an open mind.

In the meantime, Girard III still has four years remaining at Glens Falls to look forward to. Despite the fact that he will only be a freshman, Girard III already hopes to be Section II’s leading scorer next season. As for his team goals, Girard III says he hopes to bring his team a sectional championship and get an opportunity to win some games in the home-town arena, the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Girard III still has four full years to develop his game and it’s going to be a lot of fun to continue to watch him grow, as he already has one of the best games in the Capital District. Jimmer Fredette’s  school record of over 2,400 points seems untouchable, but the way Girard III is going, you never know.

Ross Bentley- Staff Writer