Joseph Katz, 8th grade phenom on the varsity basketball roster, is the Lasaters Coffee & Tea Feature of the Week @FC_FALCONS_FB, @LasatersCoffee, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

6’0,” 155-pound 8th-grader scored 6.3-pts. and grabs 4.6-rebounds a game

We love versatility and have learned the college scouts agree. That is why it is important for kids wanting to be recruited to compete in a variety of sports and not just the one. Joseph Katz from Fort Campbell needs to report to the field house for football workouts as soon as this basketball season concludes. It will make him a better basketball player plus he will get to compete in a sport for which his present physical attributes and characteristics recommend him. The same skill sets employed to play basketball as well as he does; particularly, to rebound as well as he does, are the same skills requisite to thriving in football and that is something we will highlight for you in this article. Enjoy, and Katz; get to work, son!

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

This week’s article is brought to you by Lasaters Coffee & Tea. This feature is brought to you each and every Tuesday morning. Around the KHSAA, Tuesday morning is the perfect time to wake up and smell the coffee or tea brewing.

This week’s featured branch is the Lasaters located on Tiny Town Road in Clarksville, Tennessee which also services our friends in Oak Grove, KY. Stop by 503 Heritage Pointe Dr, Clarksville, TN 37042 and enjoy your favorite coffee or tea, paired with your choice of breakfast or lunch- served all day! 

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Oak Grove, KY: There are sports, aside from football, which lend well to developing skills important for the gridiron. That is the very reason college coaches encourage high school athletes to compete in more than just the sport that athlete is hoping will ultimately pay his way toward a diploma.

Let’s talk about basketball as a “for instance.” Joseph Katz is among the more talented 8th-grade hoop stars in western Kentucky. He plays forward, is 6’0″ tall, and weighs 155-pounds.

As an 8th-grader, Katz averaged 6.3-points per game and 4.6 rebounds over 18-or so opportunities. Katz scored 18 points in a 76-53 win at Crittenden County (Feb 2026) and recorded 12 rebounds (to go with 7 points) in a win against Fulton City (Feb 2026).

These highlight skills important to football. We will explain.

First of all, scoring like he does, particularly against Crittenden County (one of the better rosters at their level of play in the area) demonstrates the kid has a lot of poise and ability to perform under pressure. Katz shooting 63% from the charity stripe and 23% from the three point line, while only still in middle school playing against rosters with 18-19 year olds defending him, shows the same poise and ability to perform under pressure.

The 4.6-rebounds per game is likewise significant. First of all, Katz isn’t gaining rebounds because he plays significantly above the rim and is just jumping over competitors. Katz is gaining superior position and holding his spot to get these rebounds. Katz is demonstrating leverage, aggression, strength, explosion, and power to get these caroms.

The twelve rebounds he snatched off the boards against Fulton City were significant. Not a ton of 8th-grade kids could grab double digit boards against any high school varsity basketball team.

What about playing basketball in general? Think about the wind it requires and the shape it requires to run up and down the hardwood all night. Think about the balance, quicks, twitch, and vertical explosion required.

Then think about how all of those same attributes contribute to playing football. Think about the poise, maturity, and physical abilities required to catch the big pass, throw the big pass, kick the last second field goal or PAT, make the big tackle in space, etc.

This is a kid who has already shown the ability to do these things, just in a different sport. Why wouldn’t he be able to do likewise on the gridiron?

So, how would football help Katz’s basketball career? Are you telling me an additional 20-or so pounds of muscle, twitch, power, explosion wouldn’t make Katz better able to power balls through the hoop through contact? Are you going to tell me it wouldn’t help him rebound and play stronger with the ball? Of course it would!

Heck, Katz might just find a solid offseason in the Falcon’s strength & conditioning program would help his performance in both sports. You know physical studs play both basketball and football equally well. There is a long line of examples of this.

It’s not just a football-thing. It is a sports thing!

Identifying potential multi-sport superstars is tantamount to getting the Fort Campbell football team prepared for the challenges ahead. That is why this particular Falcon is our Lasaters Coffee & Tea, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Feature of the Week.

That being said we felt it was high time for people around Christian County, KY (particularly Oak Grove and Fort Campbell) to take notice of this outstanding performer and outstanding young man. Hey guys, when you have talent like Joseph Katz around your hallways, it may be time to wake up and smell the coffee!

Join us next week as we return to honor another weekly prize winner. Until then, get on down to one of our Christian County Area locations and remember, our products are superior and one of a kind; just like Joseph Katz.

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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