If you know anything about high school basketball you know that player rankings are a big deal to both fans, players, and the universities who want to recruit these players. One flaw that accompanies these rankings though is that we often focus too much on the top ten to fifteen players and overlook many talented players who are a little lower down on the rankings. Today I wanted to shine the spotlight on a player many of you may not have heard of yet but division 1 universities certainly have. Joey Brunk, a 6’10 center from Indiana, received an impressive 13 offers from great programs such as Indiana, Notre Dame, and Michigan until he ultimately committed to playing for his hometown Butler University. I had the opportunity to sit down with Joey to discuss his skill set, his commitment to Butler, and what he’s doing this summer to get ready for Division 1 basketball.
Q: At 63, you were on the lower half of the ESPN Top 100 rankings and as a result you’re not as mainstream when it comes to the casual high school basketball fan. Who is Joey Brunk and how does your skill set help a team win games?
I’m just a hard-working kid who wants to play inside and play out of the post. My strength as a player is playing with my back to the basket.
Q: You chose to stay in your home state of Indiana and to play for Butler University next year. Is there any added pressure of staying home near family and friends compared with going to a school in another state?
I don’t think so. I’m really close with my family and friends and I’m happy that they’ll be able to come to my games. Going to be playing in a great state and with great fans!
Q: You were highly sought after by many Division 1 universities and received 13 offers from some amazing teams. What advice would you give to aspiring basketball players on how to get their name out there, receive more exposure, and get noticed by these great programs?
It just comes down to AAU fit and the college teams will find the players if you come to play!
Q: Great players understand what their strengths and weaknesses are. What areas do you feel you need to improve on and what are you doing this summer to get better in those areas?
I think my game just needs to continue to develop all around and to keep improving upon my athleticism.
Q: Do you foresee there being any differences between high school basketball and college basketball? If so, what adjustments do you plan on making?
I think there will be a bigger jump in terms of game speed and an increase in overall size. I just have to continue to work!
Q: What NBA player, if any, do you try to model your game after or learn from?
I would say someone I try to watch and learn from is Kevin McHale. He’s very patient in the post, has good fundamentals, and has attributes I want as a player!
Joey Brunk is that fundamental big man coaches always dream about having on their team but few coaches are ever lucky enough to have. Joey spends most of his time with his back to the basket which is a lost art among young basketball players today but as we saw in this past year’s NBA draft centers with post up games are always a valued commodity. His strong offensive game helped him post a strong stat line of 16.5 points and 9 rebounds per game which led Southport high school to a 23-3 record during this past season. More importantly though, Joey has two facets that take his skill set to another level. First, he’s a tenacious rebounder and attacks the boards on both the defensive and offensive side of the possession. Secondly, Joey has proven to be a solid passer out of the post and can set up his teammates when he commands a double team. Both of these skills will help Joey make an impact when he plays for Butler University next season and will hopefully translate to several wins for the successful basketball program. Joey Brunk still has a lot to improve upon as a basketball player if he wants to advance to the NBA one day but when your skill set is centered around solid fundamentals and a hungry work ethic your future is going to a bright one!
