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Sports

Hopkins Forward Zach Stahl Continues Tallying Scholarships

Stahl is traveling with the Howard Pulley AAU basketball program to St. Louis Friday.

Zach Stahl has had a busy summer. He traveled with the Howard Pulley AAU basketball program to North Augusta, S.C., last week and will go to St. Louis Friday. The 6-foot-6 forward also attended the Wisconsin team camp last month.

Stahl hopes the hectic travel will lead to more Division I scholarship opportunities. He received three scholarship offers and has plenty of interest from several other schools.

Stahl will attempt to help lead Hopkins to a record fourth straight Class AAAA title (the largest class in Minnesota) this season. He averaged 11.8 points per game as the Royals finished 31-1 with a season-best 23 points versus St. Louis Park in the section semifinals. He scored 10 points as the Royals defeated No. 2 seed Eden Prairie 64-52 in the championship game. Hopkins finished the season ranked No. 14 in the final USA Today Top 25 poll.

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Stahl comes from a basketball family. His father, Dale, serves as a Hopkins assistant coach and played at St. Olaf (a Division III school in Northfield, Minnesota).

Patch caught up with Stahl at the Howard Pulley Pro-Am Summer League Sunday to learn more about his summer play and his expectations for his senior season.

Hopkins Patch: What is the latest on your offers right now?

Zach Stahl: I got the University of Nebraksa-Omaha, Lehigh and Wofford. I think that Wisconsin is about to offer. 

Hopkins Patch: You went to Wisconsin for an unofficial visit recently. How did that go?

Zach Stahl: I liked it a lot. It was nice. I went to the business school. I meet with the academic counselors. I meet all the coaches, the weight and strength trainers. I liked it a lot.

Hopkins Patch: What other schools are you hearing from?

Zach Stahl: Nebraska, I have been talking to a little bit. St. Louis, Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara, Wichita State and a few others.

Hopkins Patch: How do you feel that you have played this summer?

Zach Stahl: I thought that I have been solid. I could be a little better, but I’ve thought that I played pretty good.

Hopkins Patch: What types of things are you working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?

Zach Stahl: Catching and being ready to shoot. Off-the-dribble and working on my handles.

Hopkins Patch: You have been playing with Hopkins teammate Siyani Chambers on the Howard Pulley AAU AAU team. Have you been talking about the upcoming season and trying to win a fourth straight title?

Zach Stahl: That is just the goal. That is what we have been talking about, trying to get the four-peat. That is what we are going for and we think that we can do it.

Hopkins Patch: Have you been doing much team-wise? 

Zach Stahl: We have open gyms a little bit. We are going five-on-five with the teammates, but other than that, we have not been doing much.

Hopkins Patch: You are traveling to St. Louis later this week. What are the expectations down there. I know that you have a good year, but would love to finish on a high note

Zach Stahl: We want to win that one. We have got to get that win, so hopefully, we can get that.

Hopkins Patch: Are you going to try to visit some schools when you get back in August?

Zach Stahl: Me and my parents are going to take a road trip around the country. We’ll see, nothing is set yet. It depends on if we go East Coast or West Coast.

Hopkins Patch: Have you even thought if you would sign in the fall or wait until April?

Zach Stahl: If the right offer is there, I would definitely consider signing early. 

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