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The Joey Hile Interview (Shamokin, PA)

 


Name: Joey Hile

Hometown: Shamokin, Pennsylvania

Height: 6-6

Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward

High School: Shamokin Area (PA)

Graduation Class: 2025

AAU Club: KSP25 MHC

GPA: 4.0

Accomplishments: National Honor Society, PHAC All-Conference First Team (2023, 2024)

NCAA ID: 2207608330

Recruiting Email: jthile250@gmail.com

Status: Uncommitted

SHAMOKIN, PA -- Joey Hile is a 6-6 Wing from Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He's currently a junior at Shamokin Area High School, and runs with KSP on the Made Hoops circuit. In his junior season, Hile was named to the PHAC All-Conference first team averaging 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game, while clipping for 46 threes from beyond the arc to lead the Indians to a 19-8 record.

Adding to an already star studded 2025 class, Hile is one of the biggest sleepers in Pennsylvania. The big guard is an efficient three level scorer who can expand his game to the three, take defenders off the dribble in an array of moves, and is a strong finisher in the paint using mismatch problems with his frame. While it may sound like the same old, same old with a skill breakdown, Hile is a very athletic kid. It sounds cliche, but being a dual sport athlete in baseball has had its benefits. Playing through his strengths, a laser focus, but being mechanically sound to dominate whoever is in front of him. All in all, no matter which season the junior guard is in, he is earning his keep and is well deserving of opportunities. 

Can Hile seize the opportunity with an RPN Interview?

Let's see what tricks are up his sleeve as the RPN caught up with the Shamokin product on life growing up in Central PA, his junior campaign and preparation heading into the last chapter.

Joey Hile Interview
When did you first start playing basketball?
  • "I would say I first started playing basketball around second grade. Always going to my brother, Jarred Castetter's games when he was in high school. Being around him really ignited my love for basketball. Pretty much all started in the driveway and developed into a youth league."

Can you describe your game?
  • "I would say from a skill standpoint I'm pretty versatile. Being able to bring the ball up the court to run the offense through playing in the post. I can play at the rim, and stretch the floor from beyond the arc.  Using a lot of post hooks and spin moves in the paint, while also shooting pull up mid ranges to make myself versatile as a player."

We all know the outside noise that is directed towards small towns, but real ones know that there's positive in smaller areas. I know you've even proved there's something special with putting a town on your back. How was life growing up in Shamokin for you, Joey?
  • "I enjoyed life as a kid in Shamokin. I means there are bad things happening no matter where you are, but there are always a lot of good things that get overshadowed by the negative. I think socially everyone knows each other. Whether it's in school or town, someone always recognizes someone. I think one thing that embodies Shamokin is a Friday night football game. Not only just at football games, but at any sporting event the support is there. Another thing that represents shamokin is all the small bushiness such as Clayt's, WhatNot Shoppe Cafe, Ale House, Heritage, and the AOAA (Anthracite Outdoors Adventure Area) for four wheeling and other fun stuff. The interaction really helps build our community." 

How was your junior season?
  • "Team wise we came up short. Although, we won our division, we lost our league championship and district championship game. Individually, I hit the 1000 point mark, even though I missed my goal of averaging a double double a game. Overall it was another solid year, and it's definitely a year to build off of heading into year four."

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?
  • "I think one thing that has made me the player I am today is the hours in the gym. Going into any season, the focus is getting better. Working through my skillset, ball handling, hitting the weights, speed and agility, and getting a lot of game like shots up is how I try and get better every offseason.  I think being a dual sport athlete is huge as I'm in baseball right now. Not only does the athleticism from both sports translate, but it helps me not burn myself out, by focusing solely on one sport at a time. I train with my head coach Chris Zimmerman for reps, but also work with Josh Klhea for speed and agility training."

Who is your favorite athlete and why?
  • "My favorite athlete would have to be Dwayne Wade. Just how he played, the level he played at and the intensity he played with is something of admiration. Growing up around my brother and him being a big Miami Heat fan, it truly rubbed off on me."

Who would you look up to as a role model?
  • "My role model would definitely be my dad. The way he handles himself, and gets things done is impressive. He's like a one man army when doing things. Even the way he always thinks of everyone else before thinking about himself has always been impressive as well."

What do you believe are the greatest challenges most players are facing today?
  • "I think that some of the challenges come from the mental side. Getting in one's head after a 'bad' game, play, or day as a whole. I also think that social media can be a big challenge today for players. Whether that be media coverage, not enough media coverage, or comparing one self to someone else. There's a lot of negativity things nowadays, but it's best to keep your head up and control what you can control."

What is the outlook heading into the last chapter?
  • "The outlook is to improve and be better than my first three years. As a team, win the division, league, districts and attempt at a state run. Holding myself to a standard trying to earn league player of the year, average a double double, and have more blocks off the glass than before. I wish we could run it right now, I'm excited."

Thank you J High for taking the time to talk with me today. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?
  • "I would say that being self motivated, setting your own goals, and having a work ethic will get you where you wanna go. Being able to do that, and also having a plan will assure you that you can do whatever it is that you want to. Thank you for doing this for me. It's greatly appreciated!" 


Twitter @JoeyHile

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Location: Shamokin, PA 17872, USA