Angus beefing up game in big-time travel season with New Heights

Joel Angus spent a lot of time in the post this season at Bishop Loughlin. At 6-foot-5, he was one of the Lions’ tallest players. It didn’t hamper his production – Angus had a strong season featuring buzzer-beating baskets against All Hallows and Archbishop Stepinac – but his future, of course, is on the wing.

“I tell him all the time, you can’t go to college being a back-to-the-basket player, because you’re not that big,” said Tony Davis, Angus’ trainer and assistant coach with the New Heights 17s. “You gotta be able to face up and be a 3.”

Angus has been working on that part of his game and he already has the shooting ability to pull it off. This travel season, he has really put it all together, earning MVP honors at the Playaz Spring Fling event in April, helping lead New Heights to a runner-up finish at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis and the 17U title at the Joe Brown Memorial Classic on Friday in Wayne, N.J. Angus had 18 points in the semifinals and 13 in the finals against the Panthers.

Denis Gostev

New Heights' Joel Angus has changed and improved his game during a big summer.

“By far, he’s been our best player since the season started,” Davis said.

Angus said he doesn’t have any firm offers yet, just heavy interest Hofstra, Iona, Lehigh and Wagner. Davis and fellow New Heights 17s coach James Barrett thinks the offers will come rolling in by the end of the July live period. The program heads to Las Vegas for the prestigious Adidas Super 64 next week.

“It’s real important,” Angus said of this time of year. “I feel like I’ve played pretty well. For the most part, I’ve been consistent.”

Barrett credits Angus’ emergence with all the hard work he’s doing on and off the court. He’s been working hard in his spare time on quickness, lateral movement, shooting and ball handling. On his days off from basketball drills, he hits the weights in an effort to get stronger.

“His confidence is very high right now and I believe that’s from the work he’s been putting in on his own time,” Barrett said. “He’s determined right now.”

It has little to do with his ability to make baskets and play defense – though Angus does defend New Heights’ opponents top offensive threats – but he also needs to be a leader next year at Loughlin as a senior. That’s something Angus realizes and embraces.

“I think to be a good leader, you gotta be real vocal,” he said. “When other people get down, you have to talk to them a lot. I know I’m gonna get down, but I have to get myself back up.”

He’s picked his stock up during this travel season. And it seems to be only a matter of time before his recruitment reaches that next level.

“He’s definitely gonna get offers,” Davis said. “After the July period, he’s definitely gonna be hot.”

mraimondi@nypost.com