Recruiting Report: Ryan VanWyk (2017)
Perhaps the most under-recruited player in Iowa’s 2017 class, Pella’s 6-foot-5 wing Ryan VanWyk was wrecking-shop this spring and summer on the 17U circuit, but is still without an offer. We have VanWyk ranked 20th in his class, a…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPerhaps the most under-recruited player in Iowa’s 2017 class, Pella’s 6-foot-5 wing Ryan VanWyk was wrecking-shop this spring and summer on the 17U circuit, but is still without an offer.
We have VanWyk ranked 20th in his class, a spot that typically would warrant Division II-type interest, and some guys ranked lower have D2 offers.
VanWyk says he has Division III and NAIA interest right now.
“I’ve had some interest from Northwestern up in Orange City, and then Dordt, University of Chicago, Doane, Buena Vista, Central, and I think that’s about it. And I’m going to wait until basketball season is over before I make a decision on anything, but those are the schools that are most heavily recruiting me right now,” said VanWyk.
“I think I might be a D2 caliber player, we’ll just have to wait and see how the season goes and if some coaches from that level are willing to give me a chance. Also NAIA I feel is a good fit for me as we’ll, so we’ll just have to see.”
During the spring and summer while playing with one of Iowa’s best 17U teams, ShootIt!, VanWyk says he was able to sharpen his already existing perimeter skills.
“This offseason I was really trying to work on my 3-point shot, and really improve my outside game. I thought that would open my driving game, and I’ve been pretty solid at driving, but I needed to extend my range so I could extend my defender out to me,” he said. “And improving my 3-point shot has really helped my game a lot.”
Though he is sometimes put in the post while playing with his high school team, VanWyk is adamant that he is more comfortable playing as a wing, and that’s where he’ll play at the next level.
“I’m probably a three at the next level, honestly I feel most comfortable playing out on the perimeter, just because that’s where I played a lot growing up. And then when I got to high school I’m one of the bigger guys, so I got moved in the post just because that’s what the team needed. But I definitely feel more comfortable on the perimeter versus down in the post.”
After leading the Dutch in scoring last season as a junior, Van Wyk mentioned that he cares very little about individual stats, as long as his team can continue to rack up wins.
“It will be a little different than last year,” said VanWyk, who averaged 14.9 points on 67 percent shooting last season. “I think we’ll be a lot more balanced scoring, and I think we’ll have a lot of depth. And I don’t really care about the statistics in terms of myself, I just want to have a chance to get back to Wells and play for a state championship — that’s our ultimate goal.”