Player Spotlight: Mike Gabbard (Boone County)

When it comes to success, Mike Gabbard of Boone County is no stranger to it. As a sophomore, Mike helped lead his team to a 21-8 record and this past season, helped lead his Boone County team to a 26-5 region runner up finish. One of the highlights for both he and his team was handing the eventual state champion, Holmes, one of it's only two losses on the season. As a junior, Gabbard averaged 9.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, and 2 spg. It was this past summer though that Mike's recruitment really picked up as he was one of the key pieces to Shining Star Sports-Mcfarland's 46-9 record. During that run, the 6'o point guard helped lead his team to an undefeated pool play record while competing in some of the top tournament around the country. Despite all of the success, Mike still has some unfinished business to tend to. I recently had the chance to catch up with him for a Q & A segment and here is what he had to say:

Q: Where do you feel you've improved most since the end of last season? What do you still need to work on?

A: I've improved most on my defense. I've concentrated more on becoming a lock down defender and improved on my outside shot also. I still need to work on moving without the ball and could use improvement on my shot.

Q: What are your personal and team goals/expectations for this coming season?

A: My personal and team goals are the same pretty much. I want to win state and go to state for sure and I want to push myself to make all district, all region, and possibly all state team as well.

Q: How did losing in last year's region championship to the eventual state champ help motivate you over the summer and for this coming season?

A: Losing to Holmes made me realize that we lost to the state champions by 3 points. We gave them a closer game than anyone at state did and that makes me want to work harder. Four more points and that would be us.

Q: Which schools are currently showing interest in you?

A: I have a full ride scholarship offer from Ashland University (DII in Ohio). I have made visits to both there and Morehead State. Morehead and Eastern Kentucky have both said they are going to watch me during workouts in September.

Q: What qualities are you looking for in a college program and what factors will come in to play when you sit down and decide where you'll further your education?

A: Factors for college include: Location/Distance, sometimes what division they are, my scholarship opportunity, playing time coming in, and most improtantly, a great education.

Q: Lastly, what do you feel you bring to your team both on and off the court?

A: I bring leadership and hard work to my team both on and off the court. My goal is to try and make everyone else better on my team as the season goes on.

Notes:

- First off, I'd like to thank Mike for his time and wish him the best of luck this coming season in accomplishing his goals.

- Although he is hands down the best pg this coming season in nky, don't be surprised if by January people around the state are talking about him as one of the top 5 pg's in the state as well. He is very talented and will really turn some heads this coming season when Boone gets out and plays around the state. Gabbard and teammate Ryan Popp will form one of the best backcourt duos in the NKY.

- Speaking of Boone, expect them to have a big season this coming year. They lose their team leader from last year in Stephen Mcfarland as well as several key role players in Corey Spaulding and Andrew Brown, but they will still be loaded. The Rebels return Gabbard, Ryan Popp, Ronald Cotton (probably one of the most athletic kids in the area), as well as 6'6 big man Andy Earls. Also expected to make an impact are Trevan Brown and Travis Montgomery. Both were big time players for the Rebels JV squad last season.

- As far as his recruitment goes and my evaluation of Mr. Gabbard, I expect him to land at a small D1 school. He is definetly talented enough to play at that level and I think he'd really excell at Morehead or one of the NAIA schools in Kentucky. I think NKU could also be a really nice fit for him as well. Either way, Mike will have his college education paid for which is the most important thing. He reminds me a lot of the Faulkner twins from Elliott Co this past season, only stronger.