Player Profile: Haydn Lay (Camp Hill, PA)

March 09, 2023

Player Profile: Haydn Lay (Camp Hill, PA)

Name: Haydn Lay

Hometown: Camp HIll, Pennsylvania

Height: 6-3

Position: Shooting Guard

High School: East Pennsboro (PA)

Graduation Class: 2026

AAU Club: Team Pennsylvania

GPA: 4.0

Status: Uncommitted

ENOLA, PA -- Haydn Lay is a 6-3 Shooting Guard from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He's currently a freshman at East Pennsboro Area High School, and runs with Team Pennsylvania on the AAU circuit. I first discovered Lay during his freshman campaign at East Penn.

When I first saw Lay touch the rock, I knew then and there he was going to be the future. He's a rhythm player who can light it up from deep, play at his own pace and never has to rush himself during a possession. I'm getting better at not just throwing any word around, but Lay is one of the smoothest players I've had in the last two years.

Now while I can go on-and-on about Lay's abilities, the way he carries himself is something to highlight. He's a 4.0 student in the classroom, very well spoken when you approach himself, and is very humble in everything that he does. As I said to Cole Trn a week ago, it's very refreshing to see on the high school scene. My 2026 class is shaping up to be a good one.

I caught up with the 2026 prospect on a breakdown of his game, the importance of being a student-athlete and preparation heading into sophomore season.

Haydn Lay Breakdown

Strengths:

Ability to score at all three levels.

"Lay has one of the higher upsides I've seen from a freshman. He can score at all three levels with a purpose and patience. Most importantly there's no speed up in his game. Now that I brought this up for discussion, let's breakdown the bits and pieces of how he scores."

Active on the glass.

"Lay's an excellent rebounder as a guard. Being 6'3" can help with that, but he's a vital piece on getting a board for a putback or kickout for another guard. Lay recorded 96 rebounds on the year for a freshman"

High IQ Play

"The 4.0 comes in handy on the court. We all know those certain kids who can lace them up, and know the game from the back of their head. You can always find Lay making little to no mistakes with the rock in his hand. Even in his training, he gets right to business working on his shot. Lay is a true student of the game."

Inside Game

"Lay has a way of getting a lot of his 2-pointers to fall through floaters. Now you don't see too many kids trying to play off of two feet, but I've noticed that Lay causally does this without overthinking. Even using a pull-up to his advantage at his size, he just gets right to his spots like nobody's business. Lay might surprise some people at being better off the dribble than from the perimeter. The world can decide that though."

Perimeter Shooting

"I know, I know this is what you've all been waiting for. One of, if not his best traits, Lay is a very skilled shooter at his age. The 2026 prospect has solid footwork, hands always ready and is shot ready no matter what. For East Penn being a ball dominant and dribble penetration team this past season, Lay was able to find a groove around the perimeter. The one thing that stands out to me about his game is he's always moving. Lay's very mobile running off of screens, and excels at finding his spot especially in the deep corner. If Lay perfects his Intangibles throughout the next three years, he will have a high chance at standing out to college coaches."

Improvements:

Energy Levels

"Lay is a very laid back kid but with every chill person, sometimes you have to get them moving a bit more. It's not saying he's lazy as he is far from it, but working on playing at a different speed this offseason will benefit his game. Changing speed by getting more creative on offense, getting more aggressive on defense and or becoming a leader on the court, Lay will need to challenge himself heading into next December. It's better to become uncomfortable as you learn more about yourself."

Taking more opportunities to score.

"I fully believe that Lay can be one of the best available prospects to come out of the Harrisburg area. I'll stand on it. He passes the eye test, a standout student in the classroom, and has a really well rounded skillset that most haven't caught on to yet. Another challenge I have for Lay is for him to get more aggressive on offense. He already has the toolkit, but I want to see more shot attempts from him during games. His confidence will arise in year two, but it's important to point that out now as it will only better him for the future. Once he gets this down, watch out for the young man."

Haydn Lay Interview

When did you first start playing basketball?

"I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old. I played in a league at my church and fell in love with the game."

Describe your game from the skill standpoint.

"The main part of my game is my shooting for sure. Moving without the ball, and finding the open spot on the court is something that I do well. I have a good basketball IQ, and a good understanding of the game. I can also help contribute on the boards."

How was your freshman season?

"Overall it was good. It was a very good experience for me to start varsity, and I really think it helped and will continue to help in the development of my game. We missed playoffs, which was disappointing, but we are a young team so I feel like we can improve every year."

Seeing you’re just as serious in the classroom compared to the hardwood, what does being a student-athlete mean to you?

"To me it’s very important because I know that coaches want to see student-athletes that are serious in school, dedicated, and work hard to earn good grades."

You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?

"During the summer when I am not playing AAU I go down to our family beach house a lot. Down there, I go to The Factory Sports Complex, and train with Brad Leinbach. He has worked with the 76ers earlier in his career, and he is very educated on the game."

Who is your favorite basketball player and why?

"I am a big fan of Kevin Durant. He is just an amazing scorer, and I like the fact that he usually stays quiet. He just goes out there and plays his game, which is something I try to do. I also love the way that he can score in any situation."

Who are your role models?

"I would like to say I am a young man of faith, so my number one role model I’d definitely say is Jesus. My parents are also my role models. They support me through everything and love seeing me play the game."

It’s never too early to start thinking. As you’re now at the age where you’re looking and playing for college opportunities, what do you ideally look for in a school?

"I’m looking for a school where we are not just a team but a brotherhood. I want to be at a school that has a good system that I could fit into. I also want the school to have a good education system to continue my academics."

What are your expectations heading into sophomore year?

"I hope to improve on my scoring, and being more aggressive with the ball in my hands to get to my spots. I also hope to move up in the rankings, and work hard as a team to do that."

Thank you Haydn for taking the time to talk with me this morning. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?