Joey Batt decides to stick with purple
Joey Batt has been part of a huge turnaround at New Ulm high school, and now she’s ready to do the same down the road at Minnesota State Mankato. You could say she’s following in the footsteps of Maleah Reinhart,…
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Continue ReadingJoey Batt has been part of a huge turnaround at New Ulm high school, and now she’s ready to do the same down the road at Minnesota State Mankato. You could say she’s following in the footsteps of Maleah Reinhart, well except for the Mankato part. New Ulm had gone 6-65 in 2012, 2013 and 2014 when Reinhart and her dad and coach Dan Reinhart arrived on the scene. Then, the following year Joey Batt arrived. Together, they led the Eagles to a 48-25 record over the next 3 years, an average of 14 more wins than the previous 3 years.
So, now, Maleah Reinhart has moved on to SW State of the Northern Sun, where she has started all 21 games as a freshman. Dan wanted to watch Maleah play, so he relinquished the coaching reigns at New Ulm, and they were picked up by Brian Batt, Joey’s dad, who had been Dan’s assistant. Got that?
So, this year, to be honest, with Reinhart moving on, we projected the Eagles as about a .500 team. Bad move. Instead, Joey has really stepped up, increasing her scoring from a solid 16 ppg to an even more solid 27 with 4 assists and 6 steals per game. She is #2 in the state in total points, she is 4th in points per game and 2nd in steals. Oh, and her Eagles are 16-5.
Joey is about 5-6 but she more than makes up for her lack of size with a preter-natural sense of how to play the game—just a super mental game and big-time hustle. When asked about her game, the first things she mentions are leadership, communication on the floor and defensive intensity. What she didn’t mention, at least not initially is that she has also become a devastating 3-point shooter. So far this year, she’s got 55, good for #4 in the state.
And that combination of attributes, we imagine, is why every club in town took a big run at her last fall, but she decided she would stick with the MN Rise, where she gets to play for Gustavus assistant Dan Wolfe.
So, now—well, a year from now—she’ll still be wearing purple, but it will be Maverick purple, not Eagle purple. And, honestly, Mankato will be looking to get better. They’re now 26-36 the past 2-and-a-half years, compared to 52-14 (in the Northern Sun) the previous 3 years. There Joey will join a pair of other smaller point guards, both freshman this year—Kirstin Klitzke from Watertown-Mayer, and Maddy Olson from Rosemount. It’s hard to separate the 3 of them, all quick, high-intensity players and excellent long-range shooters. But no matter what your talent pool looks like, adding Joey Batt makes it better.
We asked Joey about her recruiting experience and other stuff. Here’s what she had to say.
Can you tell us a little bit about the recruiting process with Mankato?
They were very involved in the recruiting process. It made me know that they really wanted me to go there. The coaches have made it to a lot of my games during the season and I talk to them every time I come to campus.
They first contacted me in this past summer in June and watched me during this past AAU season. I have been to the campus multiple times after they began contacting me. I went on a visit in October and also have been to some of their games in Mankato. They made their offer on January 20th and I took 2 weeks to decide and committed on February 4th.
What do you like about Mankato?
I liked the campus a lot! I loved the way the team played. They have really strong team chemistry and they communicate really well on the floor. I also loved how the bench gets involved in the game too, any basket that MSU scores they are standing up and cheering loud.
What do you think Mankato likes about you? How does your game fit in with how they play the game?
They love my leadership and the communication I have on the floor, and my defensive intensity. My game fits in with how they play because they look to push the tempo, being able to shoot and drive to the basket, and they also look to get everyone involved in scoring and move the ball really well. My strengths that will help me in college are my speed and ability to get to the basket, also my defense and creating turnovers for the other team will help.
What parts of your game do you want to improve as you get ready to play D2?
I really want to improve on my range, off the dribble jump shot, finishing at the rim with a lot of contact, and get better at changing my speeds when I have the ball.
How has your experience at New Ulm high school and also with the Rise helped to prepare you for the next level?
Playing high school basketball and AAU has really helped me grow and get better at the game. Being exposed to some of the best players in Minnesota and other states has made me realize that this is what college will be like, and if I want to be successful I need to be willing to put the work and effort in. The coaches I have had in high school and AAU have put in countless hours to help me expand all aspects of my game and make me a better player.