Recruiting Report: Steele Senske (2018)
Steele Senske is used to controlling every part of the game with his high school team. He’s the best player on the court in practically every game, he’s got the ball in his hands and he’s tasked with making all the plays. Making the transition from ‘the guy’ to ‘one of the guys’ took a little bit of time, but doing so will certainly have long-term benefits.
Senske, a 6-foot-4 guard from Park Christian, spent his 17U grassroots season with Comets Servaty and used the summer learning how to play with and against great players on a regular basis.
“It was fun, I really enjoyed playing with the Comets,” said Senske. “That was my first year back with them after playing the last few years with ECI. It was nice to get back into their system. We were successful after a pretty bad start. We got to know each other. We ended the year really strong. I love my coach, he taught me a lot. He helped me learn a ton as a player.
Senske had to make some adjustments to his game certainly, but he found that adapting to a new role could help him immensely.
“I constantly have the ball in my hands [with my high school team],” said Senske. “Getting doubled, box-and-oned, zoned up. It was nice not having that in AAU but it was also a nice challenge learning how to play without the ball. That changed my whole game. Being able to play without the ball. In high school I put up a lot of shots and score 27-28 points per game. I transitioned into more of a role player. That took some time to adjust to but it was good for me.”
It’s easy to see what the hype is about with Senske. He’s a terrific athlete – he’s a state track and field competitor – with a picturesque jumper, good handles and a strong work ethic. He’s drawing interest from all sorts of schools including a number of NSIC programs.
“Bemidji State is on my list, Crookston offered me and Northwestern is one I’ve visited,” Senske said. “Wheaton College of Illinois is another one. That is kind of my top list right now. There are some other schools that I’ve been in contact too. I’ve been offered for track and field at MSUM. I’m kind of stuck between that right now. I’ve got some track things right now too. Basketball would be my top choice but if that doesn’t work out, I’d probably end up doing track somewhere.”
Senske’s got lots of options. That’s a good thing and while there may be pressure from coaches to commit as soon as possible, Senske said he’s going to take his time to ensure he nails his decision.
“I’ve got a good feel for some schools but I want to go through my season without worrying about making a decision,” said Senske. “I’m thinking I’d like to make a decision sometime in the spring. I don’t want to deal with the headache of making a decision during the season. I want to focus on my school work and the season. And I know some coaches want guys to commit earlier, I understand that but I have to find the right fit and the school I want to be at for four years. That takes time.”