Recruiting Report: Sydnee Durtsche, Thompson Valley 2020
Thompson Valley senior Sydnee Durtsche has spent her prep career developing a reputation as a hard-nosed and talented player, and the heart and soul of the Eagles’ girls basketball team. In terms of her prospects for playing at the next…
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Continue ReadingThompson Valley senior Sydnee Durtsche has spent her prep career developing a reputation as a hard-nosed and talented player, and the heart and soul of the Eagles’ girls basketball team.
In terms of her prospects for playing at the next level, Durtsche gets some letters and recruiting notes here and there. But no program has expressed much serious interest as of yet.
Frankly, that surprises Thompson Valley head coach Paul Arrington.
“I feel like the RMAC’s missing one there,” Arrington said. “I feel like she’d be great there. She wants to play but she definitely hasn’t found the right match yet. I’d love to see her go play somewhere, especially somewhere local so I could go see her play. She’s a good player and she doesn’t get the credit she deserves because she passes the ball more than most scorers but she works hard and she’s smart, and anybody that picks her up is going to be lucky.”
At 5-foot-10, Durtsche averaged a double-double with 11.8 points and 11.1 rebounds as a junior last winter. She also had team-highs in 3.2 assists, three steals and 1.9 blocks to lead the Eagles on a 19-6 campaign.
So far in 2019-20, the senior who is known for punching way above her weight class and holding her own in the post and exploiting far bigger players with her quickness, is averaging 16 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.7 blocks. Durtsche is shooting 35 percent from the field and with the ability to step out to shoot or handle the ball on the perimeter, is shooting 21 percent from 3-point range.
The Eagles off to a 5-1 start in their 4A season, with only a 55-47 loss to 5A No. 10 Vista PEAK on their record. Even in that loss to the Bison, who feature several tall and athletic bigs, Durtsche finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.
“People look at points all the time but she is incredible on the defensive end,” Arrington said. “She anchors everything. I mean, we’re outsized by four or five inches at almost every position. We’re working on our rotation but she anchors our entire defensive effort.”
Arrington added that Durtche would potentially consider walking on if nothing develops, but remains determined to play her way into some sort of collegiate opportunity.
Durtsche plays for SOAR during the club season.