’30 prospect Mark Stivers III throws the shot, plays basketball (PF/C), and plays DL/OL in football at 6’4,” 295
I always find it interesting when some fan in some locale says, “Such and such kid is the ‘best in Kentucky.'” It begs the question, “What is your frame of reference?” “Do you even know what is out there in the Bluegrass?” “Best in Kentucky” is quite the mouthful. Well, we do know what is out there and we believe Mark Stivers III may well be the best two-way lineman coming into the ninth grade. We don’t care on what roster he ends up, he is big enough and far enough along physically and mentally to find the lineup over the course of his freshman season.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Louisville, KY: To be a big time college prospect, one has to get a little help from The Lord. Big time, gym results are earned. Big time technique is earned.
Quicks, speed, power, “twitch” are all characteristics which can be improved with the proper training and a skilled trainer. Height, length, and bulk (to a certain extent) are characteristics more attuned to genetics than training.
The Lord has blessed Mark Stivers III. We haven’t met neither I nor II (to our knowledge and present memory) but Stivers the Third is a physical stud.
How many eighth graders are entering the ninth grade standing 6’4,” and weighing a pretty well put together 295-pounds? Now Stivers has put in the work.
We have seen video of him squatting four plates (405-pounds). We have seen video displaying his movement, sink, and quick-twitch.
How many 8th graders enter 9th grade standing 6’4,” weighing 295 while squatting 405-pounds?
Friday Night Fletch
Stivers doesn’t look like a rising 9th-grader. Stivers doesn’t move like a rising 9th-grader. Stivers is much stronger and more powerful than your standard, rising 9th grader.
Stivers has a varied and developed athletic skill set for a young athlete. Stivers is explosive, throws the shot in field events, and plays both power-forward/center in basketball. We call that “twitchy.”
Stivers packs a powerful punch (did we mention he puts the shot?), can sink his hips and play at an optimal level and with leverage (405-pound back squat), and has nimble, quick feet with superlative movement (basketball player working down on the block and along the baseline).
In other words, Stivers is grown in spite of his tender years. Stivers puts in the offseason work too.
Stivers has been working with Chris Vaughn at Aspirations Fitness Center. Vaughn attracts the best athletes craving the provision of his training services which are available both in the Derby City (Louisville) and surrounding areas.
If there is a kid who has gone on to major college competition, or to play on Sundays, chances are that kid is from the Louisville or surrounding areas and has worked with Vaughn at key points of his physical development. We can’t give the man a better recommendation.
Stivers is doing all the right things. Stivers was bestowed a long, tall frame with considerable heft. However, Stivers’s hard work has packed that heft on his frame the right way. Stivers hard work has resulted in enviable power/strength numbers. Stivers hard work has developed “twitch,” explosion, sink, leverage and all characteristics like those may bring to an athlete’s table.
Will Stivers see the field early on in his HS playing career? We wouldn’t bet against it. You shouldn’t either.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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