Class of 2023 Centerville (Ohio) guard Gabe Cupps averaged 14.3 factors, 6.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and two steals as a junior and was awarded the Mr. Basketball award in Ohio.
Cupps led Centerville to 45 straight wins, together with a state championship in 2021 and a runner-up end in 2022.
Contained in the Corridor not too long ago spoke to Cupps about what he discovered from his junior season, his future at Indiana, NIL and rather more. A full transcript our of dialog is accessible under:
You had a very profitable junior season, however got here up brief within the championship sport. What had been your main takeaways from what you had been capable of accomplish this season as a group?
“My ideas after the season had been simply what I may have accomplished in another way to vary that final result in the long run. Clearly, we did have a very good season, however you at all times need to end it. It undoubtedly harm, however it’ll make all people that was part of it higher in the long run. I used to be simply tremendous grateful to have the ability to play with these seniors. We at all times talked about taking advantage of the times that we now have and I believed we did a very good job of that this 12 months. To get to that remaining sport, you maximize that chance that you simply had.”
What was the largest factor you discovered about your self this season?
“Mainly, I study one thing about myself each season. Simply enjoying with completely different guys and having to regulate to the group. This 12 months, I believed my position was a little bit bit completely different than final 12 months after we gained it. I feel coping with that exterior voice of all people questioning if we’re going to go back-to-back or if we’re ever going to lose as a result of we’re on an enormous profitable streak, I feel it was good for me to study to take care of that and simply take every sport separately and concentrate on the duty at hand as an alternative of pondering again on what we did or ahead on what we’re going to do.”
You talked about the profitable streak. Do you are feeling that on a game-to-game foundation if you’re within the midst of it?
“Probably not. I feel our group of fellows did a very good job of staying current and simply stored doing the issues that had gained us all of these video games. We knew that if we stopped doing the issues that obtained us there, we may lose to anyone. We additionally knew that if we did issues proper, we may beat anyone.”
As a degree guard, how do you strike a steadiness between distributing and when to search for your individual offense?
“I don’t actually give it some thought. I simply attempt to make the best play. If I’ve a shot or see a chance to create for myself or to create for an additional man, that’s simply one thing that comes from enjoying the sport so lengthy and actually simply attempting to make the best play every time.”
By way of your explosiveness offensively, there have been some clips of you ending on the rim this season with dunks. Is that one thing that has developed over time? How a lot have you ever labored on it?
“I’ve labored on it. Simply being within the weight room. I did vertimax and issues like that. It additionally simply has been growth. I’ve gotten taller and stronger. It’s a little bit little bit of each.”
What are the principle issues you might be targeted on if you’re within the gymnasium working in your sport?
“I’ve been working rather a lot on off the dribble stuff. Just a few strikes coming downhill on individuals. I’ve labored rather a lot on ending across the rim and enjoying off of two toes within the lane. I feel that’s huge for me, particularly as the extent of play will get increased. Simply having the ability to get into the lane after which make the best choice each single time. After which clearly I work on capturing and pull-ups and every thing like that each time.”
What do you assume are a very powerful issues by way of having the ability to constantly make 3-point photographs as a participant?
“I feel a very powerful factor is that work that you simply’ve put in. And I feel that helps rather a lot together with your confidence, too, if you’re capturing them in sport. Simply realizing that you simply’ve repped it and also you’ve accomplished it 1000’s of instances. I feel additionally, simply repping completely different conditions like sliding and operating into some (photographs). Standing and catching and capturing. The way in which you’re capable of shoot a very good proportion, should you work on it, is simply taking good ones within the sport. I feel that contest in school is certainly much more lanky and athletic than in highschool on common, so that you simply gotta attempt to get open and good photographs and I feel that’s if you benefit from them.”
What’s been your communication with the Indiana workers? You will have a very good relationship with coach (Brian) Walsh. What are the stuff you’re most enthusiastic about by way of getting an opportunity to work with them sooner or later?
“Loads of the instances it’s simply checking in to see how one another is doing. They’ve been serving to me with my weight achieve and stuff like that. Making an attempt to get stronger and extra bodily. I’m simply trying ahead to having them be capable of coach me and a brand new expertise. I feel enjoying with new guys and at that stage is one thing that I stay up for and placing myself as much as that problem is one thing that I like.”
Indiana obtained some huge information not too long ago with the Malik Reneau dedication. You gained’t be on campus for an additional 12 months, however this class that’s coming in, what are your ideas on the expertise that IU has been capable of assemble? And together with your class, you had an opportunity to satisfy Jakai (Newton), how excited are you to play with him sooner or later?
“I’m tremendous excited. It’s superior that IU is getting these extremely ranked recruits and a few high expertise. If we are able to do issues proper, we’ve obtained a shot to be actually good. So I’m simply trying ahead to enjoying with all of those nice guys.”
How shut consideration do you pay to recruiting rankings? Or do you not take a look at it in any respect?
“I don’t take a look at them in any respect, however I do know that Jalen Hood-Schifino is ranked actually excessive and so is Malik. I clearly watch them, however I don’t simply take a look at the rating and say, ‘oh, they’re actually good.’ I am going watch them and now I do know they’re actually good. I don’t assume it’s a real mark of a participant. I don’t actually take note of it.”
On3 has developed a device to rank gamers primarily based on their NIL incomes potential. You might be fairly excessive up there. Have you considered that in any respect?
“I’ve seen it. I give it some thought a little bit bit, however on the finish of the day, no matter occurs, occurs. I’ll be effective with it. I don’t fear about it or put an excessive amount of thought to it. I feel it’s cool that guys in school are capable of earn a living off of their identify. I feel that’s the way it ought to be. I’m excited for it.”
That is your remaining AAU season. What do you need to accomplish this spring and summer time?
“Simply attempt to get this group to play the perfect they will and simply have enjoyable and win some video games alongside the way in which. Hopefully attempt to win the adidas circuit.”
