HOOP
RECRUITING: Waterstradt, Diamond In The Rough
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam
Hosey, Da Chairman
SpartanMag.com
Recruiting Analyst
The
state of Michigan is a producer of some of the best basketball talent in
the country. SPARTAN Magazine watched the underrated Dan Waterstradt last
weekend at the Storm Classic in Rockford, MI.
At
6-foot-10 Waterstradt is a budding talent that combines good size and athleticism.
Waterstradt plays along side MSU-target Al Horford for the Michigan Mustangs
and sometimes gets overlooked but things are changing.
“Danny,
I promise you, by the end of the summer, will be this year’s Kirk Walters,”
said Mustangs Coach Norm Oden. “They’re going to love him.”
Oden
is referring to Grand Rapids South Christian senior, 6’10” Kirk Walters,
who seemingly came out of nowhere last summer to play himself into a high-major
scholarship offer from Arizona.
Walters
was also instrumental in leading South Christian to the Class B state title
this season.
“Big
kids can’t run like him. That kid can fly,” said Oden. “He’s fast. He rebounds
too. He’s going to be fine. He’s starting to get the recruiting that will
merit (an invitation to the Adidas ABCD Camp).”
**
Stephen
Bell of Michigan Preps ranks Waterstradt the No. 10 rising senior in the
state of Michigan. Waterstradt attends Redford Catholic Central High School.
Oden
stated that Waterstradt hosted nine Division-I coaches in a workout earlier
this week. Rutgers, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Ball
State were just some of the schools that attended.
“(Rutgers
coach) Gary Waters likes him and he should,” said Oden. “He’s going to
be a hell of a player. I’m telling you he’s going to be this year’s Kirk
Walters. Write it down he’s going to be very very good. The kid can play.”
Although
Waterstradt is being recruited by mid-major programs Oden says not to be
deceived into thinking he is a mid-major recruit.
It
is likely that as Waterstradt gets more exposure nationally he will receive
offers from bigger schools.
Mid-major
schools tend to push for kids to sign early on in the recruiting process
before the bigger schools see them. Expect Waterstradt to be patient and
play himself into high-major contention.
SPARTAN
Magazine will keep tabs on Waterstradt as well as other prep players around
the state.
|
