We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embodies being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Javier Ortiz of Jordan.
We’ve seen Ortiz countless times, both with Jordan and Wildcats Elite, stating, “Javier Ortiz will be the X-factor this year for Jordan High School. He is an athletic wing who plays with an incredibly high motor. He impacts the game on both ends of the floor. He has the ability to defend multiple positions with his size, length and athleticism. He rebounds well. He is the guys who will make the plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet, but they help lead to winning. Offensively, he excels getting downhill and finishing strong at the rim. As he continues to improve his perimeter shooting, it’ll make him that much more dangerous. More importantly, Ortiz is a leader. He sets the tone with both his communication and leading by example.” Later followed by, “Given everything he provides to this group as a glue-guy, Ortiz is someone who should appeal to various coaches at the next level. Between his motor, leadership, and two-way versatility, he does a great job of consistently affecting all facets of the game. Ortiz is a quality athlete with length, toughness, and the ability to produce in various different roles. He can initiate the offense or play without the ball. Ortiz is a useful cutter, active defender, and willing playmaker. He does a healthy amount of everything on the court.”
It’s actually quite surprising that Ortiz hasn’t already seen an uptick in his recruitment, especially given everything he brings to a team. At 6-foot-5, he’s a tough, athletic, well-rounded wing/forward prospect with useful versatility on both ends of the floor. Ortiz regularly defends multiple positions, outworks opponents on the glass, and fills in the gaps offensively. He can initiate the offense as needed, create for himself and others, or find opportunities as a cutter. Ortiz is a scrappy, rugged player with a high motor and excellent nose for the ball. He makes hustle plays on a regular basis and applies consistent pressure in transition. Ortiz is simply an adaptable piece. Expect him to collect offers while shining as a leader during the upcoming season.