Recruiting Report: Justin Ahrens (2018)
Justin Ahrens boasts a familiar name for Ohio hoopniks. Younger brother to Michigan State freshman Kyle Ahrens, Justin is proudly making his own name this winter. The younger Ahrens (Class of 2018) has more recruiting awareness than his peers, because…
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Continue ReadingJustin Ahrens boasts a familiar name for Ohio hoopniks. Younger brother to Michigan State freshman Kyle Ahrens, Justin is proudly making his own name this winter.
The younger Ahrens (Class of 2018) has more recruiting awareness than his peers, because he witnessed first hand how the process worked for his brother. Already, the 6-foot-6 Justin has visited some schools.
“I am still setting up some visits,” said Ahrens. “I visited Michigan the other day. Oakland is coming in for a work out. Ohio had me come down for a visit.”
Justin saw Michigan February 7th. He is getting a strong push from Oakland (MI) University Assistant Coach Drew Valentine. Also, Davidson Head Coach Bob McKillop, who recruited Kyle, is in contact with their father still.
“Dayton wants me to come visit too,” said Ahrens. “Coach (Bob) McKillop has been in touch with him because they used to recruit Kyle too.”
The Ahrens live in Versailles, Ohio. The town is northwest of Dayton and geographically-speaking Ahrens should be on the radar of Ball State, IUPUI, IPFW, Toledo, and Wright State by May.
He has his sights set at the Big 10 too.
Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, and obviously Michigan State have been in contact with his family. Harvard, Dayton, and Davidson are early entrants too. Ahrens has visited Purdue. MSU has not evaluated him live just yet.
Living up to high standards is nothing new for the younger Ahrens.
Kyle set the bar pretty high, finishing with 1,777 points during his HS career. Signing with Michigan State is also a high bar. They traditionally fight for prominence in the Midwest’s best basketball conference, the Big Ten.
On the Floor
Ahrens helped his Versailles Tigers to a Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) Title last week for the first time since 2004. Though he earned All-MAC Honorable Mention last year he will be more deeply-respected after this sophomore season.
“We got third seed in the tournament,” said Ahrens. “I am averaging 25 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg.”
After last week Ahrens is down to 22.5 points per game. Ahrens shoots a blistering 52.15% from the floor (38.40% from 3) and finished fourth in the league in assists. His importance to the team and for the MAC league are not in doubt. He led the league in scoring, as a sophomore.
“We have a special break and I run the wing,” said Ahrens. “I handle the ball a lot too. I see a lot of double-teams. I set up my teammates up a lot.”
Justin Ahrens is the full package. With as much noise as he is making the whole Midwest will have to take notice.