Recruiting report: Jared Ridder (2017)
SPRINGFIELD — One of the state’s top college prospects in the 2017 class has made his college choice as Kickapoo’s Jared Ridder has given a verbal commitment to play at Xavier. A long, athletic 6-foot-7 wing that can shoot the…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD — One of the state’s top college prospects in the 2017 class has made his college choice as Kickapoo’s Jared Ridder has given a verbal commitment to play at Xavier.
A long, athletic 6-foot-7 wing that can shoot the 3 and play above the rim, Ridder says he chose the school over 13 other Division I offers.
“Xavier stood out to me from the beginning,” Ridder said. “I built a great relationship with (head coach) Chris Mack and (assistant coach) Luke Murray over the past few months. Right when I stepped on campus I felt like I was at home. I loved every part of it.”
Xavier is coming off a 28-6 season and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It was the third straight season the program has notched 20 wins or more.
“I see myself fitting in at Xavier perfectly,” Ridder said. “They play my style of basketball. Also the school has great academics and that’s definitely something I was looking for too. It has the best of both worlds.”
After leading Kickapoo to an appearance in the Missouri Class 5 state championship game this past season, Ridder is having a strong spring on the Nike EYBL circuit with MoKan Elite, averaging 7.4 points, while shooting 51 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range.
Ridder drew offers from Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Boise State, Missouri State, Elon, Lehigh, Stetson, Air Force, St. Louis, IUPUI, DePaul, and Northern Iowa.
He said he never narrowed his list, but was strongly considering Iowa State, Oklahoma State, UNI and Missouri State.
“I knew playing D1 basketball was a real possibility after I got my first offer from MSU,” Ridder said. “Some of the biggest factors to get me there was a lot of work, playing for MoKan and just being as coachable as I possibly could be.”