Angelo Chol hasn’t been playing basketball since he could first dribble a ball like most of the other top ranked basketball players in the country. Once he hit the basketball court in 7th grade, it certainly didn’t appear that a future college basketball star was learning the game. In fact, according to his high school coach, Ollie Goulston, Chol struggled even with simple things like lay-up lines when he first began playing the game. Now, four years and a lot of hard work later, Chol finds himself the 25th ranked player in the ESPNU Super 60 and the national record holder for blocked shots in a season (337), something he accomplished as a sophomore last season. TheShiver.com spoke to both Chol and his coach, Ollie Goulston, about Chol’s game, recruitment, and more.
Chol certainly remembers the days when he started playing basketball. Those days weren’t easy, but improvement came fast for Chol back then. Now that he’s considered a top prospect, Chol feels like taking his game from good to great is even harder today than it was to take his game from nothing to good four years ago.
“I was so horrible that I just wanted to get better,” said Chol of his game when he first started. “At first, you get better and better, and then you get to a point where you don’t think you can get any better. Now that I’m good, it’s just so hard to become great, but I’m just trying to get to that next level,” added Chol about his game.
According to Goulston, Chol’s constant hard work over the past four years has made him the 25th ranked player in the 2011 class, a ranking that Goulston believes will change over the next year.
“His game is coming along quick,” said Goulston of Chol. “He’s so new to the game though. He only started in the 7th grade, but is such a hard worker. He’s ranked a top 20-25 player now, but I think he’ll be a top 10 player pretty soon, by the end of the year,” added Goulston.
From struggling in lay-up lines to setting a national record for blocked shots, Chol has put in a lot of hard work in order to become one of the top players in the 2011 class. Chol has a long list of schools that have expressed interest and currently holds offers from such programs as Kansas, Georgetown, UCONN, Washington, Arizona State, Florida, UCLA and Alabama among others. North Carolina has also shown interest and had coaches in to watch Chol twice this month, but has yet to offer.
Chol’scurrent list is long, but it will be getting shorter in just over a month. November 1st is the date that Cholis hoping to sit down with Coach Goulston to get his list down to 10 schools. At that time Goulston also hopes to plan some unofficial visits to schools on his list. However, one visit could happen before November 1st if plans can be finalized for him to attend the ‘Late Night in the Phog’ celebration at Kansas.
“We’re trying to get worked out to go on the trip,” said Chol about visiting Kansas. “I’m looking forward to going. I’ve been to Kansas, but not to the campus,” said Chol attended NCAA First Team in Overland Park earlier this summer. I want to visit Kansas, but I’m pretty much open to any school right now,” added Chol.
The thoughts of possibly making the trip to Kansas was echoed by Goulston.
“Kansas is one he’s talking about,” said Goulston. “It’s a possibility, and they (Kansas staff) have talked to us about it. We are trying to work it out,” added Goulston.
Chol recognizes that his confidence in his game has changed over the last year.
“I did pretty well,” Chol said of his play during the summer circuit. “My confidence was so low, but now it’s like I can play with anybody. I feel like I can play with anybody in high school,” added Chol.
Chol’s confidence has increased because his game is improving at such a rapid rate.
“He’s a great defensive player with a good motor,” said Coach Goulston. “Right now, he’s working on his shot and ball handling,” added Goulston.
Both Chol and Goulston had the same response when asked what the best part of Chol’s game is right now.
“Blocking shots,” both Chol and Goulston said.
Chol did add that rebounding and his post game are other parts of his game that he feels he does well, but added that he occasionally tends to watch some rebounds rather than going after them, and that with added strength, his post game will get a lot better.
The obvious answer considering Chol set the national high school record for shots blocked in a season during his sophomore season. A skill that Chol continued in June at the Under 16 National Team Trials where Chol impressed once again.
“During the USA try-outs, the coaches felt he was the best big guy there,” said Goulston. “The only reason he didn’t make the team was because he isn’t a U.S. citizen just yet,” added Goulston.
As for other parts of Chol’s game, it appears he knows exactly what he needs to work on as he prepares for the next level.
“On the ball defending, ball handling and my post game. I can get better on that,” said Chol. In high school I’m a low post guy, but at the next level I’ll be more of an outside guy. More like a 4 or 3 that can post up smaller defenders,” added Chol.
With the work ethic that Chol has displayed over the last four years, he should have little trouble accomplishing his business goals that he has set for his future.
“Not sure now,” Chol said about what he wants to major in once in college. “I’m a business kind of person. I would like to own my own company,” added Chol.
With a mind-set of getting better everyday, Chol looks to be well on his way to fulfilling all of the goals he’s set for himself.
