Casteel High School (14-2) is off to an excellent start to the season, after winning this year's McClintock Holiday Shootout recently. In the event, Casteel defeated host McClintock High School in the championship game of the event, 65-56, and were led in the tournament by the overall play of 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior guard Aidan Schmidt. Schmidt has also been the team's leader this season in numerous statistical categories, and is having a big season for himself in the process.
Schmidt came up big for Casteel during the McClintock Tournament, as he has all season for his team. In the semi-finals of the McClintock Holiday Shootout, in a 48-45 overtime win over Hamilton High School, Schmidt turned in a game-high 28 points and 8 rebounds in the tournament win. Then in the tournament final, Schmidt followed that monster performance up with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game. Schmidt earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors for his play in the event.
Schmidt is having an excellent season for himself - averaging nice numbers on the season. Schmidt is pouring in 19.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per/game for Casteel this season in the state's 5A Division. Casteel will definitely be a team to beat down the stretch in the Open Division State Playoffs this season, as the duo of Schmidt and 6-foot-5 junior Amare King is one of the best duos now in the state. The team has a a favorable schedule for the remainder of the high school season, but will face their biggest test of the high school season this week in a match-up with top-ranked Desert Mountain High School on the road.
Schmidt is a very intriguing prospect. At 6-2 in height and playing all over the floor for Casteel HS, Schmidt projects as a shooting guard at the collegiate level. He is a deadly shooter with nice range on his shot, but also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish strong at the basket. He does not mind physical contact and competes - playing much bigger than his size suggests. He is a gritty performer and can score inside and out. He also is a good passer of the basketball and sees the floor very well. This aspect of his game should progress nicely over time, as he matures and reaches the collegiate level. I really like prospects like Schmidt, because he is simply a player that gets a lot done on the floor, and will figure out his true position in college, depending on the college program of his choice, and their need on the court.
Schmidt is now one of my top sleeper prospects in Arizona's 2024 Class, and I believe he is an excellent recruiting target this spring for a smaller college program, as he could make an impact at the right program. I will continue to follow his play and college recruitment this high school season, and bring you any updates throughout the season.
