For The Tribune
Alex Hofer began playing football, basketball and baseball at an early age, and when he entered Seymour High School he planned to continue to play all three sports.
The senior began playing baseball in kindergarten, basketball in second grade and football in fourth grade.
He suffered a broken arm during football season his freshman year and didn’t get to play basketball that winter.
During his junior year and this school year he has concentrated on football and basketball.
At 6-feet-8 he is the tallest member of the basketball team.
Hofer likes to play near the basket to take advantage of his height.
“I like to set up more on the block. It give me more of an advantage for easier baskets,” Hofer said. “I like doing a jump-hook. I like facing zone more. It’s a lot easier to pick a zone apart.”
Hofer said practice is very important, and every day in practice he battles one-on-one with junior post player Tiller Cummings.
“We have a 10-minute period just based on the big guys so that’s where we get at it most of the time,” Hofer said.
When the Owls are on defense, Hofer prefers to play man-to-man because he likes going one-on-one against an opponent.
He is confident the Owls can have a winning season.
“We need a lot of hard work, showing more toughness, being more mentally tough, just being more physical than the other team,” Hofer said.
The Owls have a new head basketball coach this winter in Tyler Phillips.
“He brings a different type of energy,” Hofer said of Phillips. “He’s positive all the time, and we have done different drills. The intensity, the energy is completely different, and it makes practice way more fun, and enjoyable too. It makes you want to work hard and feel good.”
Last fall, Hofer played guard on offense and end on defense with the football Owls.
“It was a great experience. I preferred offensive guard,” he said. “I enjoyed blocking. In pass blocking you can’t go forward or you’ll get a penalty called so you have to keep your back straight up and make sure you’re hands are inside your shoulders.”
Hofer said he has tried to work hard in practice in all his sports.
“Practice is very important,” he said. “Both coaches said you practice like you play. If we good off, when it comes down to game time we’re just not going to be ready.”
In team sports, there’s a major level of trust involved in various aspects of each game, Hofer said.
“You have to trust your teammates no matter what,” he said. “The mental part is big. If you don’t think you can do it, most likely you won’t do it. It’s just trying to get over that hump of ‘I don’t think I can do it.’
“You have to believe you can do it. You need to accomplish your goals and be better than you previously were.”
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Name: Alex Hofer
School: Seymour High School
Parents: Terry and Linda Hofer
Siblings: Ana, Emily
Sports: football 4 years, basketball 3 years baseball 2 years
Organizations: Latin Club, choir
Plans after high school: attend college to be an architect
Favorite food: pizza
Favorite TV show: ESPN
Favorite movie: Hotrod
Favorite team: Michigan State
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