"Thunder in the Paint and Fire from Deep"

William Bobeck

@bobeck_william

6'9, Class of 2028

Desert City Prep National Team, ID

William can muscle his way to a basket in the paint, then step outside and let it fly when a defender gives him room. He’s a physical forward who can make a big man feel him inside and make that same big man come out and guard him beyond the arc. He can spot up when a teammate gets into the lane or pull his defender away from the basket and give that teammate an easier path to the rim. That’s what makes his game so tough to match up with. Where you put your big man against William can change what opens up for everybody else.

Last season at Lewiston High School, William averaged a double-double, helped win the Avista tournament and made it to the 5A state championship game. Putting up that kind of production while his team was making a run gave him a chance to show how much he could bring on both ends of a possession. He could get his team a basket inside, then get in there and grab a tough board when a shot came off. Winning the Avista tournament gave Lewiston a big moment to celebrate before the group went on to play for a state title.

The biggest improvement in William’s game has come in his body, his athleticism, and what he can do with the ball on the perimeter. He spent the offseason building up his guard skills so he could do more when the ball came to him outside. When a defender runs him off the line, that extra work gives him a chance to put it on the floor and get into the paint on his own. That’s a big addition for a forward who already likes to get physical once he gets there.

Transferring to a prep school gave William a whole new look at the game. He moved in May to train with his new team, and they worked out every day that summer. He could feel himself improving during those workouts, then got to see where his game stood against teams like AZ Compass, La Mirada High School and Hillcrest Prep. Going up against competition he’d never faced before meant figuring out what would still work when the guys guarding him could close quicker and make him fight harder for his spots. His answer was to stick with it and find ways to make his game work against those matchups.

William considers his shooting the most underrated part of his game. Defenders can see a physical forward and give him a little extra room because they’re ready for him to go inside. He can make that a costly decision by hitting the open shot at an efficient clip. A coach can use him as an outlet when the paint gets crowded, and William can make the defense pay for leaving him there to help on a drive.

William already has two offers, and he’s pushing to earn more from the programs he wants to play for. He thinks about the offer he’s chasing when he’s putting in his reps, and that gives him a reason to make the most of his time in the gym. What fuels his fire is how badly he wants to play college basketball. That goal was there when he moved to train with his new team, and it’s still what pushes him when he’s working on his game behind the scenes.

William can give his team extra chances with what he does before a miss even comes off the rim. When he gets inside position and seals his man, he gives himself room to go get the ball and go right back up. Those are tough baskets for a defense to give up after it’s already forced a miss.

I assess that William has the potential to become a forward who can make things happen as a passer when teams send help his way. As he gets more reps against prep competition, expect him to spot the teammate a defender leaves and get him the ball before the defense can recover. Stay tuned!