At 6-foot-5 and capable of dialing in from NBA 3-point territory with consistency, California native Austin Galuppo has the essential intangibles to become one of the country’s high level snipers.
On a team loaded with guards at Scotland Campus Sports (Pa.), Galuppo has carved the 3-point dagger man niche for himself.
Hitting shots from 25-30 feet out at an efficient clip, bagging deep momentum-bolstering 3-pointers, and spreading the floor out with moon beams, Galuppo’s game has the chance to flee from obscurity this season.
“I see myself being a scorer when needed,” said Galuppo, who will have considerably less offensive weight to shoulder than he did last year at West Ranch (CA) High School.
“I think I will fit coach (Chris) Chaney’s system because he likes to play fast-paced and give his guards the freedom to shoot threes, which I do well.”
The security aspect of being able to keep his options open, rather than squander a year of eligibility with the JUCO route, ultimately steered Galuppo to a post-graduate season.
Galuppo said improving his strength while working consistently at his ball handling and converting his shooting to the mid range game are areas of devotion.
While at West Ranch, Galuppo had one wild 51-point single game scoring spree. Catching and firing and shooting through amplified face guarding throughout, Galuppo also displayed a sneaky vertical and explosiveness in that one.
Galuppo had other games in which he was leaned upon too heavily and caught junk defenses predicated on neutralizing him.
With a number of fringe caliber prospects and a highly-lauded, versatile 6-foot-9 face up forward in Karim Coulibaly flanking him, Galuppo will have more freedom to be a volume shooter off the ball.
The speed at which the ball leaves his hands from 25+ feet out and the ability to knock down transition treys are what separates Galuppo.
He enters with a number of lesser known prospects, many of whom help stabilize a deep backcourt.
He’s got help from DeQuarius Nicholas, a rugged 6-foot-1 guard out of Georgia with two-way potential. The layered depth is also evidenced with underrated 6-foot-5 guard Akrum Ahemed, a transfer via Oak Hill.
With length and the ability to knock down shots and a knack for going to his left for dazzling in-traffic finishes, Ahemed has generated NEC interest.
While Scotland Campus features a hellacious open court finisher in South Alabama-commit K.K. Curry, they’ve got a pair of big and multi-tooled 6-foot-6 forwards in Tabais Long and German Kasanzi. Weber State appears to be jockeying for front runner in high scoring guard Judah Jordan’s recruitment.
Galuppo, who had early interest from Princeton and Pepperdine, recently pulled in offers from Bryant and Southern Utah.
Bryant appears to be prioritizing Galuppo, who is slated to visit the Rhode Island campus shortly.
The revitalized NEC program has already stolen one in Joe Kaspersyzk, an ultra quick and athletic skyriser out of New Haven, Conn.
“He’s the type of shooter who will go off for 10 threes in a game and suddenly everybody will start gunning for him,” said one Division-1 assistant coach.
“Just one game where he shoots it the way he’s capable of and he will be inundated with offers.”
