After nearly six months of summer basketball, the travel season has ended and the yearly shift towards high school hoops has finally begun. Although there is still a lot of basketball going on between camps, fall leagues, and other preseason jamborees, this is typically the quietest time of the year for the grassroots community. Which, in turn, means there’s no better time to start highlighting individuals who have the tools and ability to be breakout players over the next eight months. While this notion could certainly apply to a variety of prospects, the emphasis is primarily on younger guys with an increased role, new school situation, or those who simply take the next step in their progression. However, JT Van Kallen represents what so many coaches want—selflessness, versatility, malleability—yet doesn’t seem to have the appropriate recruitment. Let’s take a closer look…
It should be pretty easy to identify the overall appeal of a strong, versatile, malleable player who can thrive in a multitude of roles. However, Van Kallen’s recruitment doesn’t quite reflect his ability and all the ways he’s able to impact a game. As the title implies, he’s a true Swiss-Army Knife who does so many little things that simply don’t appear in the stat sheet. Numbers cannot fully encompass the value he brings to a team. They don’t properly highlight his ability to guard multiple positions, rebound bigger than his size, and naturally fill in the gaps as an unselfish, team-oriented cog. Van Kallen consistently does the dirty work and makes the extra pass to give up a good shot for a better opportunity.
It’s disappointing that his desire and ability to play the right way hasn’t led to an uptick in his recruitment, as he is a scholarship-level piece. Van Kallen is a smart player who can initiate the offense, apply pressure as a downhill force, and make quality decisions with the ball in his hands. He finishes well through contact and is capable of knocking down jumpers as needed. Although he’s a pluggable offensive piece who can produce in several roles, so much of his value comes through his rebounding presence and defensive versatility. Van Kallen can defend three to four positions comfortably, but has the size, strength, and physicality to contain opposing bigs as needed. Given his incredibly steady, well-rounded game, coaches should certainly be in pursuit over the coming months.