Recruiting Report: Matt Kreklow (2016)
Update on 10/4/15 from Alex Conover Several NSIC recruits have made their decisions in the last month or so, and the pins will continue to fall. One prospect who will likely be among the next group to decide is Matt…
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Continue ReadingUpdate on 10/4/15 from Alex Conover
Several NSIC recruits have made their decisions in the last month or so, and the pins will continue to fall. One prospect who will likely be among the next group to decide is Matt Kreklow, Delano’s 6-8 power forward. He garnered multiple D2 offers after a nice grassroots campaign with Comets Lewis, and he’s narrowed his college list down to just two.
“I am going to decide this fall between either UM-Duluth or U of Mary,” Kreklow said. “I will probably decide within the next couple of weeks.”
The Delano senior visited Mary last weekend and “really enjoyed it.” Next up is UM-Duluth, where he has a visit lined up for this upcoming weekend. He estimates that his decision will be likely hinge on the campus feel and comfort.
“I’m just going to trust my gut feeling,” he added. “I really am very happy with both of the options, though, so that will make it tough.”
Matt plays tight end for the Delano Tigers football team this fall, and he has helped them achieve a 5-2 record thus far.
August 21st Update
Matt Kreklow is a true under the radar prospect in that many hadn’t seen him play since he was injured for a while and because he grew several inches in the past couple years. When Kreklow was offered by U of Mary and UMD this spring/summer it was a talent emerging on the circuit.
Matt played with the Minnesota Comets and became one of the most dependable players that the team had. He’s got legit 6-foot-8 size, Matt has face-up talents that include three-point range, and he can defend a couple positions.
“This year I really tried to work on my quickness and strength, which helped me keep up with a faster paced game,” said Kreklow about what he took from playing with the Minnesota Comets in Grassroots basketball.
“It also allowed me to guard better players and rebound well. Overall the (Grassroots) season went well! We had a fun group of guys that loved to play basketball.”
Delano has a nice balance of quality in their senior class and young talent amongst their underclassmen that received important experience a year ago. Matt played in only half of his team’s games a year ago averaging ten points a night despite battling pain.
Matt, junior Nick Cayler, and sophomore Calvin Wishart were three of the top four scorers for Delano a year ago and they return.
“I think we will have a pretty good year,” Matt said. “We have a solid nucleus of players coming back. In order to be successful we will have to tighten up our defense and also be more efficient on offense.
“We have our work cut out for us since we got moved into a tougher section but I feel we will be able to compete!”
In the meantime Kreklow has to look into where he will be playing his college basketball next year. Two visits are planned.
“Right now I plan on visiting Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Mary. But I also have a few other NSIC schools that I want to look at.”
Update from 4/29/15 by Alex Conover
A little growth spurt never hurt anybody. Especially not when they’re trying to earn a college basketball scholarship.
Matt Kreklow of Delano was listed at 6-foot-4 in our last 2016 rankings update. After seeing him play at the Comets Shootout and confirming via phone, he’s more like 6-foot-8. Oops, time to update the rankings.
While his growth was a benefit, he had a major streak of bad luck with injuries that caused him to miss all of last year’s AAU season and half of the high school season as a junior.
“The doctors diagnosed my injury incorrectly,” Kreklow said. “They said in the early summer that it was a stress fracture in my foot, so I was out for six weeks. Then, I got back and played football, and it felt okay… but when I got back on the hardwood, it hurt. I went to a different doctor, and he diagnosed it as a torn ligament. I had surgery on it and didn’t play again until late January.”
Kreklow is back at it now, and to him, “everything feels good.” He’s working on quickness and strength, hitting the weight room to become bigger, stronger and faster. After half of a junior season and some early AAU showings, he’s building a list of potential suitors.
“I’ve heard from Bemidji State, Wayne State, Northern State, MSU-Moorhead, Sioux Falls, St. John’s (MN), Concordia-St. Paul, and St. Thomas,” Kreklow listed. “Since I was hurt last year, I didn’t have very many colleges looking at me, so as I start hearing from some, I'm just keeping my options open. I think they are all great schools with good programs, and I am excited about them all.”