Recruiting Report: Nicholas Ruden (2018)
Last March, at the State Tournament, 6-foot-4 St. Mary’s forward Nicholas Ruden was not only good enough to open our eyes at Prep Hoops Iowa, but some college coaches took notice too.
And despite not playing with a grassroots team this spring and summer, Ruden says he’s seen a steady stream of college interest come his way. Mostly of the NAIA and Division II variety.
“I went to some camps this summer, like USD (South Dakota), and I play down with Briar Cliff every Wednesday. And I’ll be doing some more camps coming up here in August,” said Ruden, who has an offer already.
“Right now I feel like Briar Cliff is on me pretty good, they offered me a scholarship. But then I have some Division II schools recruiting me too, like Wayne State. They’re probably recruiting me the next hardest from seeing me at the state tournament.”
Though he says Briar Cliff could be a great opportunity for him, Ruden is holding out for some D2 offers, and there are a couple of Midwest programs in particular he’d like to see reach out.
“I’ve been getting stuff from all of the NAIA schools around here, they all want me. And I’d love to go play at Briar Cliff, but I really want to shoot for Division II, like Augustana and stuff like that,” said Ruden, who mentioned D2s Central Missouri and Sioux Falls have been after him.
“Hopefully next year I have a bunch of Division II schools coming to watch me, like Upper Iowa is one I’d like to see.”
It’s no question that the schools interested in him are intrigued by his versatile set of skills. He’s able to play the wing or handle his own down low.
“My strengths I’d say is my post work, and then my shooting for somewhat of a big guy. Not many teams follow me out to the 3-point line, because they think I can’t shoot,” said Ruden.
“And then defending, I like defending, blocking shots and all that. I love guarding the other team’s best players. I love being challenged on defense.”
He added: “In college, I’ll probably play wing. I like playing the wing, but since we really don’t have a big guy at St. Mary’s, I fill that role for us.”
As a junior with the Hawks, Ruden helped lead them to the state tourney semifinals, and averaged 15.9 points per game on a terrific 58 percent shooting. He also led the team in rebounds and blocks.
“I felt like I played to my ability. We had a very, very skilled team. I tried to find my teammates, and when I needed to score, I scored. I felt like I did a good job,” said Ruden.
This spring and summer, instead of playing grassroots ball, Ruden has been working out on with a trainer, and improving on his own time.
“I really feel like doing that (grassroots ball) isn’t bettering me. So I just work a lot on my own in the offseason. I have a trainer who comes to Remsen probably two times a week, and we do a really hard workout,” he said.
“And I’m in the gym pretty much everyday, and I’m shooting and lifting and running. And then I do speed and agility workouts.”