Norwin senior Alex Haas was talking with a teacher recently when the teacher mentioned how tall her son was for his age. Despite her son being 4-foot-8 in the third grade, Haas' own story could trump that.
“I remember I was like 5-foot-2 (in the third grade),” he said. “I was a big kid.”
This season, Haas is the Norwin boys basketball team's biggest.
After the graduation of fellow big men Nick Idele and Matt Stewart last season, the 6-foot-5 Haas stepped into a more prominent role in the Knights' starting lineup. Whereas last season he played alongside fellow 6-foot-5 forwards in Idele and Stewart, Haas now finds himself on the floor most often with guards who stand 6-foot-1 or smaller. While senior Nick Palo is also 6-foot-5, he and Haas rarely play together.
The new role required an adjustment for Haas, who previously spent a lot more time on the perimeter.
“I knew that we were going to be smaller this year,” he said. “I like lifting weights, and this summer I put on a lot of weight compared to last year. I knew I had to get bigger (and) stronger and I don't have to fade out as much. Sometimes I do get caught outside the arc, but I had to kind of get into my mindset that ‘you've got to get more rebounds this year, you've got to play the post more, you've got to be not out in no-man's land.”
Haas' biggest adjustment came on the defensive end. In previous seasons, Haas said he never guarded the opponent's biggest player. This season, the responsibility of defending Connellsville's 6-foot-10 center Trent Bauer and Penn-Trafford's 6-foot-7 Sam Kavel fell to Haas and Palo.
While he gives up some size in those matchups, Haas prefers his new challenges to his old ones.
“It's a lot better playing in the post and battling like that than going on the perimeter and having (to guard) a 6-foot guard like (Hempfield's) Kason Harrell,” he said. “I'd much rather guard somebody in the post than a guard.”
On the offensive end, Haas' history of playing on the perimeter provides the Knights (13-9) with flexibility.
“He always grew up on the wing, so he has all the shooting skills that you want in a post player,” Norwin coach Lynn Washowich said. “Not only can he post someone up and get a layup, but he can also shoot the ball really well from 15 feet. Against Connellsville, you saw how effective he was because if you stay off of him, he's going to shoot the ball and make it.”
Haas said while he always liked shooting, his touch didn't improve until he was in the ninth grade. His Amateur Athletic Union coach helped correct a technical flaw in his shooting stroke, allowing for a more natural motion.
“Ever since then, it worked out,” Haas said. “At the beginning of (this) season, they weren't falling. But ... you can't think about it, and they'll start going.”
Haas and the Knights faced a challenge on Wednesday with a game against No. 3 seed North Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs. The game ended past the deadline for this week's edition.
“We understand they're a great basketball team and we're going to have to have an incredible performance,” Washowich said. “But the only thing in sports you can ask for is an opportunity. If you want to be one of the best, you have to go out and show it. I don't know what the outcome will be, but the only thing you can ask for is the opportunity.”
While Haas had faced matchups against bigger players in the post, Wednesday he expected to face a different challenge in defending North Allegheny's Elijah Zeise. Zeise, a University of Pittsburgh football commit, is smaller than Haas at 6-foot-3 but uses his speed to his advantage.
“I hear he moves very well (and) is quick,” Haas said. “I've got to stay low. He definitely has a first step on me, I'm sure, but I can't let him beat me off (the dribble). And I saw on video that he goes after offensive rebounds like an animal, so that will just destroy us if I allow it.”
Doug Gulasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-388-5830, via email at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.
