It will be a very rare occasion when I watch an 8th grader play and say 'yeah, that kid is definitely good enough to play in the league this summer' - at least on the boys' side. I only came across two that fit that description in the 2014-2015 season. For one of them to be as good as they were and become a 1st team selection... that's a feat that may never be matched. That's exactly what Glens Falls rising freshman Joe Girard III accomplished this summer.
Girard - or JG3, as some have coined him - is far from the average 14 year old. For example, he already has been offered a college scholarship before his first day of high school. That's right, High Point - a Division I in North Carolina out of the Big South Conference - offered Girard upon a knockout performance at the CP3 Rising Stars camp, an invitational camp for the top Class of 2019 prospects with only 220 players receiving invitations from 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. He played up a year on the City Rocks national-level 15U team, which is rare in itself considering City Rocks rarely have kids play for a team a grade level above. Not only was he on his high school's varsity team, he was their leading scorer and one of the leading scorers in all of Section II at 23 PPG.
He's not the tallest or fastest in the world, being a 5'11" combo guard. He's able to score consistently against just about anyone, though, because of his shooting ability, deceptive quickness, and stop-and-pop ability. If you give him any room to breathe, he can knock it down with range that extends well beyond the 3 point line already. If you crowd him, he has the quickness and handle to break defenders down off the dribble and get to the rim - and fouling him isn't a smart move, as he shot 88% from the free throw line last winter and 89% from the line here this summer. He also has the ability to stop on a dime and pull up for a jumper on balance, much like former Glens Falls & BYU great (and now San Antonio Spur) Jimmer Fredette.
Add a raging competitive spirit to the package that he brings, and you see why he's already got an offer and his pocket and earned a 1st team selection at Empire State Takeover. No one likes to play poorly or lose, but few are perfectionists the way Girard is. When he makes a mistake, makes a poor read, or misses a shot he thinks he should make, you can see the anger & the willingness to make up for it. As a player considered 'undersized' as far as the next level is considered, you need an edge to survive. At 14, he's already got that and the drive to be the best. This may be the first in a loooong series of 1st team selections for him.
Joseph Girard III
Glens Falls HS
Class of 2019
5'11"
10 games played
16.2 PPG (5th in league)
162 total points (3rd in league)
28 3 Pointers made (2nd in league)
88.9% FT (16/18 - tied for 1st in league)
Season High 39 (2nd highest total in league)
Season High 8 3 Pointers made (highest single game total in league)
4 games of 20+ points
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