Recruiting Report: Tyler Raimann (2017)
Photo courtesy of Dan Ring of the Waseca County News
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers won 24 games in the regular season and have a shot to get to the state tournament. A big key in their success has been the growth of senior big man Tyler Raimann.
Raimann averaged about eight points and six rebounds as a junior for a Panthers team that won 17 games and lost in the subsection semifinals. He’s increased those numbers to 13 points and nine rebounds while anchoring a defense that allowed just 43 points per game through the regular season.
The 6-foot-8 center has drawn a fair share of college interest throughout the year and narrowed his college choices to University of Wisconsin, River Falls and Riverland Technical College.
“I visited River Falls and went to a few of their games and I visited Riverland and have gone to some of their games too,” said Raimann. “‘I’m not going to make up my mind until after our season. I want to play but I also want to go to a program where I can fit.”
Raimann’s got some choices to make because both schools are enticing for him but for different reasons.
“Riverland is a good place for my education but they ran more of a five-out system this year,” said Raimann. “River Falls runs a system that kind of fits my style of a four out, one in, but I’m not sure if it fits my education as well. So it’s a little complicated.”
He’d have the opportunity to earn playing time right away with both programs given each team is graduating key rotation guys in the frontcourt. Riverland seems to be a logical fit given the education angle and there’s likely to be minutes available, and with two-year programs, systems aren’t quite as set in stone, rather they are more tailored to the players on the roster given more frequent turnover.
“I’ve talked to their coach and they are losing all of their big men,” said Raimann. “It’s a two-year college so it’s a good situation in terms of playing time right away.”
Raimann said he likely won’t make up his mind on a school until after the season is over – which if things go well won’t be for another 10 days or so. The Panthers play Jordan in the Section 2AA final Friday.