Recruiting Report: Garrett Tjernagel (2018)
*Photo Courtesy of the Sun Patriot*
Finding big men that are willing to mix it up inside, defend and do the dirty work is becoming increasingly difficult. Garrett Tjernagel is a guy that fits that bill.
The Mayer Lutheran big man has played well this summer for Midwest Basketball Academy and several local colleges have taken notice.
“I’m looking at a few Division II MIAC schools right now,” Tjernagel said. “I’ve talked to Gustavus, Northwestern and St. Olaf a decent amount.”
Tjernagel’s got good measurements at 6-foot-7 with long arms and good mobility. His ability to run the floor is a valuable asset and he’s got a frame to fill out especially in his lower body.
He’s been productive this summer for his AAU club, averaging close to a double-double. He’s a low-maintenance offensive player who excels at setting screens, finishing off drop passes and hitting the glass.
He’s a solid interior defender and shows the mobility to defend well in space. He said he’s working on expanding his game as well.
“I’ve been working on my ball handling and mid-range shooting,” said Tjernagel. “I’ve been most effective around the rim and I think if I can round out my game a little more it would do wonders.”
Midwest Basketball Academy has a few more tournaments left and Tjernagel said he’d like to improve on his individual game but he also wants to see the team sustain more success.
“I just want to focus on playing well as a team,” Tjernagel said. “We have a lot of good players and a lot of talent. We can be hard to stop when we are clicking together.”