Prospect Watch: Nathan Reuvers (2017)
How good is Nathan Reuvers? Fans, coaches, etc have been asking that question all year after seeing his impressive numbers hit the wire after each game. The 6-foot-10 junior power forward is totaling 22.2 points per contest this season after…
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Continue ReadingHow good is Nathan Reuvers? Fans, coaches, etc have been asking that question all year after seeing his impressive numbers hit the wire after each game. The 6-foot-10 junior power forward is totaling 22.2 points per contest this season after giving his team about six a game last year.
From last March to right now the growth of Reuvers has been tremendous in all ways. Reuvers first caught the state’s attention last March when he scored five field goals against Hopkins in the state tournament and helped his team defeat the mighty Royals. It wasn’t the 11 points as much as it was the way Reuvers scored his baskets facing up Hopkins frontcourt players and skillfully scoring over the top of from mid-range and at the rim.
Nathan continued to take steps this past spring and summer playing with the Minnesota Fury helping them compete as one of the best 16U teams not only in Minnesota but according to the sites that do the rankings, one of the best in the nation.
Over the off-season Reuvers added offers from several D1 programs including Creighton, DePaul, Air Frce, San Diego, Santa Clara, South Dakota State, Penn, and several other programs. He is also hearing from a number of high major programs including Notre Dame, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and others.
Now Reuvers is not only a key contributor to a top ten Panthers team but he’s the main offensive weapon, the guy the Panthers run the ball through on just about every possession. Has Reuvers truly developed that fast? Without a doubt.
Nate started the game against rival Lakeville South catching on the block and going at the rim with his first four attempts making two. He used his length and quality footwork to get in position, catch, and then extend to complete while staying on balance to release cleanly.
From there Reuvers cut sharply off the ball to catch at the arc and make a couple three-point attempts. The second triple was the most impressive as it was at the top of the key after a hard cut off a backside screen and released cleanly despite a long and athletic defender closing hard on Nate (South sophomore Shae Mitchell).
Next Reuvers put together a barrage of face-up scores catching around the paint, turning to face the rim, and then either putting the ball on the deck once before touching the ball off the glass and in, or simply facing up out of the post and using his length and quick release to touch the ball in softly before the defense could try and get a hand up to even try and bother a Reuvers release that is so high in the air (sorry for the run on sentence, not sure how to break that description up).
Reuvers finished the game making a ridiculous 12 of 16 shot attempts for 28 points and 11 rebounds. What made his field goal numbers so ridiculous was that the majority of his attempts had a defender immediately in front of him. There was also a second half tip-in from a tough angle that Nate touched in from a near impossible angle running full speed from the other end.
All in all it was a fantastic performance. Reuvers rebounded well, worked hard to get into space to catch and attempt, showed off a tremendous level of skill, and showed body control and agility as well.
Is he a high major competitor? Are you kidding me? Nobody should ever ask that question again. Reuvers has the perfect height of a skilled face-up four man, he has agility, his offensive arsenal includes range, face-up touch, back to the basket moves, and physical finishes, plus he’s developing as fast anybody sense….
Orono’s Jon Leuer. Yes the Jon Leuer who played for Wisconsin and is now a five year NBA veteran playing for the Phoenix Suns. Can Reuvers be as good as Lauer and play a high level of college ball and maybe be in the NBA? That all depends on how Reuvers develops and works. It’s way too early to pretend to know his future in that way.
But, like Jon was, Nathan is a thin but long and skilled 6-foot-10 junior that has burst on to the scene with huge numbers making rapid progressions in every way.
No I am not saying Nathan Reuvers is the next Jon Leuer, it’s too early for that. What I am saying is that the comparisons in terms of size, age, and speed of development at similar times does grab your attention.