The commitment of four-star Jamie Kaiser gave head coach Kevin Willard his first signature win since becoming the head coach at Maryland. For Kaiser, a 6-foot-6 guard, Sunday’s announcement signaled the end of a long-winded recruitment that first began as a football prospect.
After playing both football and basketball at Lake Braddock then Bishop Ireton, Kaiser announced in the spring he’ll focus strictly on basketball and his fast-rising ascension was well documented through the summer after continuously turning heads through the live periods. It’s why schools like Oregon, Auburn and UCLA all began pursuing the efficient guard/wing through the summer and if you ask Bishop Ireton assistant Mike Lew, it’s no surprise why Kaiser caught the attention of so many schools.
“He’s always been one of those players that’s hardworking,” Lew told Inside the Black and Gold. “He can affect the game in multiple ways—rebounding, defense—but I think it’s just confidence, his overall game. He’s always known he’s been a good shooter but his confidence overall and his overall game, like his scoring, putting the ball down, getting to the rim, using his athleticism. Him being a bigger guard I think his post-up game one-on-one, that’s always been a lot better then this past year being at Bishop Ireton, playing in the WCAC and being doubled a lot, just making the right basketball read because the ball had been put in his hands more than in years past.”
Kaiser’s transition from football to basketball workouts and in between seasons was a transition for the former two-sport athlete, but he’s back down close to 200 pounds now where he’s been able to focus strictly on his basketball game. “He works out at Quantum a lot so I think he’s there all the time now just keeping his body right specifically for basketball. Last year, he’d go out and throw, then lift then a couple of wide receivers at Bishop Ireton were always out on the field.”
Kaiser will move into IMG Academy on August 21, roughly two weeks from today, and Lew said the added bonus of the Crusaders’ facilities coupled with Kaiser’s work ethic will help him develop before he heads to College Park.
“I’m excited for how much he’s going to grow at IMG because of how much he’ll be allowed in the gym. There are certain kids you hope they get down there and get in the gym to work out. He’s one of those kids that it’s going to be hard to keep him out of the gym just with it being so accessible.”
Where can Kaiser grow as a prospect who fits in at the two or three?
“I would probably say ball handling. I think he handled the ball a lot better than people realized. This year in high school, he was definitely able to help with those point guard loads from time to time. Ball handling is something I think he can keep improving on. I think he can score from all three levels but I think just being that off guard, continuing to improve on that role is the next part of his game that he can work on.”
Kaiser is rated a four-star prospect and a 95 overall by On3, sitting as the 37th-best prospect in the country.
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