Prospect Spotlight: Alex Rasmussen (2018)
The Northfield Raiders are in the middle of something of a retooling season, and despite massive personnel changes, they are off to a strong start. A big reason for their success has been the play of junior guard Alex Rasmussen.…
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Continue ReadingThe Northfield Raiders are in the middle of something of a retooling season, and despite massive personnel changes, they are off to a strong start. A big reason for their success has been the play of junior guard Alex Rasmussen.
Rasmussen played some as a sophomore but a senior heavy Raiders team led by Luke Harris — now at Minnesota, Duluth — meant he came off the bench in more of a complementary role. Now he’s a go-to guy along with senior forward Hunter Koep — signed to play baseball at North Dakota State — and he’s relishing the opportunity to stand out.
“It’s exciting,” said Rasmussen. “Last year I didn’t handle the ball or score as much and I was in more of a backup role. I learned a lot from those seniors and I’m really excited to step up and show what I’m capable of.”
Rasmussen’s capable of a lot. At the next level, Rasmussen profiles as more of a wing player. He’s 6-foot-3 and about 200 pounds and he’s a very good perimeter shooter. For the Raiders though, Rasmussen spends a lot of his time manning the point guard spot. While it might not be his natural position, the experience is paying big dividends for him.
“It helps me know what everyone else is doing on the court,” said Rasmussen. “It forces me to be a strong ball handler. I have to be quicker in my decision making and it’s a good challenge on the defensive end.”
Ramussen said he’s talked to several Division II basketball programs including the University of Mary and Southwest Minnesota State as well as local Division III schools including Carleton and St. Mary’s.
The junior guard is averaging 13 points for a Raiders team that is looking to finally get back to the state tournament. The top team in Section 1AAA is undoubtedly Austin, but the Raiders are in the mix for the No. 2 seed.
“We have a lot of new guys but I think we can reach our goal of getting to the state tournament,” said Rasmussen. “It’s been a long time since we were there and that’s a big goal for our program.”