Julius Von Hanzlik knows all too well what Trent MacLean brings to the table.
The SoCal Academy head coach made MacLean a priority when he decided to make the move in large part because of his versatile skill set, especially when it comes to his shot-making ability at 6-foot-9.
“He’s a 6-foot-9 floor spacer and when you talk about the ability to shoot it, it’s deeper than just catch and shoot, spot up and standstill threes. He can make tough and very difficult contested shots,” he said. “He can score off the bounce whether it be one or two dribble pull-ups. He can hit threes off the run whether it be a rearview contest. He elevates and really gets his shot up and with his size the defense doesn’t affect it.”
But while his shot-making ability is a well-known trait, it’s another that has caught the attention of Von Hanzlik since he arrived in August with his new team.
“One of the most underrated things about him is his rebounding ability,” he said. “…That’s one of the things I think he does really well that a lot of people don’t know.”
SoCal Academy has produced 55 players to the division one level in the past four years, but where MacLean has taken advantage of the opportunity is not only the platform but the developmental piece.
Von Hanzlik always believed that MacLean was oozing with potential, but the competitive environment has only helped accelerate things in terms of his overall development.
That led to a number of scholarship opportunities late in the process including West Virginia. The Mountaineers made MacLean a priority and did a good job covering a lot of ground fast.
“He’s a guy that comes and works every day,” he said.
But even with that being said MacLean has his best basketball ahead of him. As MacLean continues to add size and strength to his frame, he’ll be able to maximize his overall skill set on the basketball floor. But in the meantime, MacLean should be able to make an immediate impact with his ability to make shots.
“His skill set is translatable to all levels. Shooting is valued at every level,” he said.
Off the floor, MacLean has a no-nonsense approach and is simply focused on being the best player he can be, which is something that has endeared him to his teammates in a relatively short period of time.
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