Maret senior center Luka Garza has developed into one of the top players in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area during the course of his high school career.
Garza is ranked the second best player in the D.C. area and the No. 13 center in the nation.
Now that high school basketball is finally over, Garza looked back at how far he has come since his freshman year.
“When I came in as a freshman, I was unknown,” Garza said. “And to leave known is a big thing for me.”
Garza credit his success on the court to his hard work and dedication to the game. What he displays on the court is a true reflection to the amount of time he spends on developing his skills.
“I worked hard over my four years, and I continue to do so; to see what I can do with this game,” Garza said.
The four-star prospect is an offensive threat as he stands at 6-foot-11 and can score from inside and outside. He averaged 24.5 points per game, which was fourth in the area this season. When adding Garza’s rebounding skills, he is an example of the new generation of big men.
Garza tallied 37 points and 17 rebounds in his final game against Gonzaga in the DCSAA Championship. Maret ended up losing that game, 77-66.
His stellar play this season led to earning an invitation to play in the first ever Triple Threat Classic that was held on Sunday.
“I’ve been watching Triple Threat on Twitter and seen it got big in the DMV,” Garza said. “It’s just awesome to be apart of a big event.”
Garza registered 22 points, and 12 rebounds to help Team Always a Threat to a 120-99 victory over Team P4G.
“I came out here trying to play as hard as I could,” Garza said after the game. “Big men are usually not the focus of these, so I had to attack the glass and my teammates did a great job giving me the ball.”
Garza ended up receiving the MVP award over some of the top players in the DMV, who participated in the inaugural event.
“It’s an honor,” Garza said. “I got the ball more than I thought I would, so I credit my teammates for this award.”
Garza will be playing for the University of Iowa next season. The Hawkeyes were one of the first high major schools to have interest in him.
“Iowa started recruiting me early,” Garza said. “They were one of the first schools to offer me, and they stayed constant through my whole process.”
Garza believes his strong relationship with Iowa’s head coach Fran McCaffery played a factor in his college decision.
“I had the best relationship with the head coach [McCaffery] more than any other coach,” Garza said. “That meant a lot to be.”
Garza’s main goal is to be a solid contributor for the Hawkeyes right away.
“That’s my goal,” Garza said. “I’m going to work hard this summer to make that happen.”
Inside The Locker Room 