Academics First For Swingman
Ryan Koppel, a 6-6, 205 pound shooting guard/small forward from Broad Run High School in Ashburn, VA, has visited a couple campuses so far.
Koppel told Rivals Hoops that he's visited American Univeristy and the Air Force Academy and plans to visit Princeton during the summer. And Colgate had an in-school visit with the rising senior.
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Others schools interested in Koppel include Penn State, Richmond, Bucknell and Villanova. An excellent student, Koppel caries a 3.47 GPA and has scored 1200 on the SAT. He said his major will probably be in the business administation field.
Koppel averaged 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists this past season while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line and about 40 percent from behind the arc.
The swingman, who is still waiting to hear if he will be attending the Nike Camp in July in Indianapolis, will be at the Five Star Pittsburgh camp from July 3-8 and the Eastern Invitational from July 22-28.
The young man from Washington, DC's Northern Virginia suburbs said he is working on his quickness, speed and ballhandling during the offseason. "I'm working on improving my first step and explosiveness as well as spending time in the weight room," he pointed out.
Koppel listed a number of factors which he will weigh when it comes time to choose a college. "Academics, of course, and where I'll find a right fit," he said. "After all, this will be home for four years."
"I want to join a program where I'm really wanted and can make a difference," he added. "And I want to have an opporunity for a good job after I graduate or to continue with basketball, if that works out."
Koppel said he would like to make a decision by the fall 2002 signing period.