Player Spotlight: 2011 SG Jake Kocher

Yesterday Pflugerville Connally soundly handled Austin St. Michael's 79-67. Despite the win, the Cougars were the latest victim to get stung by the scoring strikes from 2011 G 6'2" Jake Kocher. So many of my Texas Prep Reports this season have rightfully so been focused on Senior G Paul Garnica of San Antonio (and rightfully so) that we tend to overlook the scoring exploits 60 miles up I-35 in Austin, TX of the kid with the perpetual smile and rosy cheeks. Garnica & Kocher's common bond is their love of the game and that they were summer team mates on the Texas D-1 Ambassadors.

That's where the similarity stops. Kocher is a shoot first, score first player who can make you pay from the perimeter, in the midrange and while dipsy doodling in the paint.

(Below: Kocher in a summer tournament...hey, who's the good looking bald guy in the background???)
But wait, you say. "He's at a private school so, amassing points is no big deal." Hold on folks. First of all, St. Michael's has a pretty good team. Over the last two seasons they've won more than their share against Texas 4A & 5A schools. In fact, this year the Crusaders are 10-4 vs. The UIL. Kocher's overall scoring average is 27.5 ppg. ( He suffered a concussion against Westbury Christian in the 1st quarter vs the Houston powerhouse). Against public schools Kocher now is averaging 28 ppg while many times facing gimic defenses such as the box and one.

2011 SG Jake Kocher of Austin St. Michael's & the Texas D-1 Ambassadors

To date Kocher has lit the following UIL public schools up with these totals:

Pflugerville Connally 37, Liberty Hill 36, Austin Travis 30, Waco University 30 Copperas Cove 39.

I look for Kocher to really step it up in the summer of 2010 during his rising senior summer. Mid majors and high academic schools take note.....Coach Max