Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kody Strutz, Big Sandy BB

The summer is often the time for many to kick back, relax and enjoy the time off from the daily craze that happens during the school year, but for many student-athletes, summertime is when it is time to improve and hone their craft in preparation for the next sport season that awaits them. For the many high school basketball athletes along the Hi-Line, the summer brings about the Lights Summer League that has taken place in the Armory Gymnasium on the Montana State University-Northern campus for many years.

And one of those athletes is upcoming sophomore from Big Sandy, Kody Strutz.

Strutz has been participating in the summer league for four years now. In the 2019-2020 season, Strutz was a freshman, as well as a part of the "Cardiac Pioneers" squad that put up a great fight throughout the season. Now, he enters the 2020-2021 season as a sophomore who is ready to hone his game to a higher level at the summer league.

And Strutz has a great motivation to keep working hard at the summer league, too, since it helps him adapt to new opponents every summer.

"It really helps me when I play other kids from other towns," Strutz said. "It just allows me to get some different competition in the summer."

Summer league puts basketball players to work to help develop and strengthen their game. Led by Northern men's basketball head coach Shawn Huse, the summer league is full of fundamental drills, day-to-day competitions and scrimmages that give players the opportunity to gain them skills and knowledge to apply to future season on the hardwood.

In Strutz's case, the summer league just brings out more opportunities for him to face challenges that will help him do well against various players that are ready to throw down on the court.

"I definitely enjoy getting to scrimmage against other players," Strutz said. "Five-on-fives, three-on-threes and all that kind of stuff is great."

And since a great portion of the summer league attendance is District 9C, Strutz will get a lot of practice with familiar opponents on the court in the summer, as well as other players from Havre, Glasgow and other schools along the Hi-Line. There is a lot of great competition at the summer league and with Strutz ready to put in the work to get better, there will be a lot to look forward to in his future with the Pioneers.

Summer league has been a great way for Strutz to get better, but on top of that, his older brother, Kade Strutz, a senior on last season's Big Sandy squad, has been pushing him to do his best since day one.

"He's helped a lot," Strutz said. "Ever since a young age, I would have to play against him. It's just having to step up to a different level and it's good experience to learn from him."

The Lights Summer League will continue till July 13, but in that time, Strutz will be at another level in his game, putting him on the right path to give it all he has for the Pioneers in the 2020-2021 season. The sophomore still has some years left in his high school career, and with the work he is willing to put in, he will keep getting better. The summer league pushes on, but before its end, the Havre Daily News caught up with Strutz for five questions.

HDN: What skill are you looking to improve the most at summer league this year?

Strutz: "I want to improve my leadership, how to help my teammates and just those raw skills."

HDN: What is your favorite drill you have done at summer league?

Strutz: "I think it's our shooting drill. You have to make 10 shots at each spot. It's a great team drill. You get to work on your shot, getting your feet set and stuff like that."

HDN: What are your hobbies during the summer?

Strutz: "I do swim team during the summer and I like to ride dirt bikes, too. That's pretty much it."

HDN: What are looking to apply what you learned at summer league to your sophomore season at Big Sandy in the spring?

Strutz: "My leadership skills will definitely help. We lost some good players this year, so we're going to have to step up for that."

HDN: At first, there was a possibility that summer league may not happen. How glad are you to have it this year?

Strutz: "I'm really glad. It's a good way to get in shape and I get to work here (Armory Gymnasium) instead of sitting at home."