by Chris Monter November 17, 2010
Ninth Grader Ian Theisen Attracts Attention
Ian Theisen, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound freshman center from Osseo, like his 2014 counterpart, Tyus Jones, started high school basketball as an eighth graders. He has also attracted early attention from Minnesota. Theisen attended the last year’s Minnesota basketball games versus Ohio State and Michigan State and has been to several football games this fall. GopherHole.com recently caught up with Theisen at the Minnetonka Fall League to learn the latest on his recruitment and expectations for the upcoming season.
Theisen has helped the defending Class AAAA runner-ups to a 22-6 mark last season, losing to Champlain Park 69-52 in the Class 4A, Section 69-62. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Theisen shot 60% from the field and 78.8% from the line.
GH: How was the experience of playing as an eighth grader? Not many kids get a chance to do that. Was that something that you are glad that you got a chance to do?
IT: It was really good, because now I can understand how this works. Last year, it is more about how this works more than getting results, but this year is more about getting results and having a good team this year
GH: What types of things are you working on to get ready for this season?
IT: The athleticism part. The ballhandling and conditioning for me to get up and down the court at a very high rate. Footwork. Explosion. Really all the things that will help us.
GH: What are the expectations for you at Osseo this season? I know that you lost some good players to graduation, but you also have a lot of good players coming back.
IT: Our expectations are the same as normal. Win the conference, win the sections and get back to that state championship. That is everyone’s expectations this year.
GH: You had a lot of football guys on the team like Joey Sonnenfeld. Was that hard to work together for open gyms?
IT: We had six football players. We need to start working with those guys because it is not very long until the first game starts.
GH: You went to the “U” for the Ohio State game. Did you get a chance to tour the campus?
IT: I just went to the game. I did not get to tour the campus, but it was very fun.
GH: Have you had a chance to go to any other schools?
IT: No. Not yet.
GH: I know that it is early being only a freshman, but are you starting to get some letters from schools?
IT: Recently, I got letters from Georgetown, Xavier, Syracuse, Michigan State, Florida, Florida State and DePaul. They are starting to come in.
http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1228
Ninth Grader Ian Theisen Attracts Attention
Ian Theisen, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound freshman center from Osseo, like his 2014 counterpart, Tyus Jones, started high school basketball as an eighth graders. He has also attracted early attention from Minnesota. Theisen attended the last year’s Minnesota basketball games versus Ohio State and Michigan State and has been to several football games this fall. GopherHole.com recently caught up with Theisen at the Minnetonka Fall League to learn the latest on his recruitment and expectations for the upcoming season.
Theisen has helped the defending Class AAAA runner-ups to a 22-6 mark last season, losing to Champlain Park 69-52 in the Class 4A, Section 69-62. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Theisen shot 60% from the field and 78.8% from the line.
GH: How was the experience of playing as an eighth grader? Not many kids get a chance to do that. Was that something that you are glad that you got a chance to do?
IT: It was really good, because now I can understand how this works. Last year, it is more about how this works more than getting results, but this year is more about getting results and having a good team this year
GH: What types of things are you working on to get ready for this season?
IT: The athleticism part. The ballhandling and conditioning for me to get up and down the court at a very high rate. Footwork. Explosion. Really all the things that will help us.
GH: What are the expectations for you at Osseo this season? I know that you lost some good players to graduation, but you also have a lot of good players coming back.
IT: Our expectations are the same as normal. Win the conference, win the sections and get back to that state championship. That is everyone’s expectations this year.
GH: You had a lot of football guys on the team like Joey Sonnenfeld. Was that hard to work together for open gyms?
IT: We had six football players. We need to start working with those guys because it is not very long until the first game starts.
GH: You went to the “U” for the Ohio State game. Did you get a chance to tour the campus?
IT: I just went to the game. I did not get to tour the campus, but it was very fun.
GH: Have you had a chance to go to any other schools?
IT: No. Not yet.
GH: I know that it is early being only a freshman, but are you starting to get some letters from schools?
IT: Recently, I got letters from Georgetown, Xavier, Syracuse, Michigan State, Florida, Florida State and DePaul. They are starting to come in.
http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1228
