Recruiting Report: Gabe Madsen (2020)
Six-foot-4 guard Gabe Madsen had an outstanding freshmen season at Bloomer High and is now a sophomore at Rochester Mayo in Minnesota.
Madsen is coming off a 15u season that saw Gabe play a huge role in the Wisconsin Playground Warriors pushing to a final record of second nation. Weekend after weekend the Playground Warriors made event runs.
“Our top moments included winning the UAA finals, Summer Jam, and Fab 48,” Gabe said. “Playing with a very talented group of guys. How my game improved: more patient, better decisions with the ball, and a better defender.”
Madsen put together a season of 18.1 points per game shooting 51 percent from the floor, 72 percent at the foul line, and 48 percent from the arc. With Mason bringing 17.7 points along with the 18 from Gabe the Mayo Spartans have vaulted themselves into the category of “best upcoming teams in Minnesota”.
“Our goal is compete for a conference championship and by the end of the year to be considered one of the best teams in our section,” Madsen said. “What we have coming back is two starters and 2-3 other kids who played quite a bit last year.”
The Mayo Spartans return Stephen Douglas (11 points a game last year) and Adam Leary (a long and active 6-foot-5 forward) is back so the talent is there for a good year. Gabe is still a sophomore though so there are things he is focusing on when he is in the gym every day.
“(I’m working) to strengthen my handle, find other ways to score besides the three (post, ball screens, setting screens) and to become stronger in the weight room,” Gabe said.
A long list of schools are aware of the way Gabe played both at Bloomer and with the Warriors.
“I’m hearing from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Tulane, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Iowa, Creighton, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, South Dakota, and Michigan,” Gabe said. “I’ve recently visited Wisconsin, Marquette, and Northern Iowa.”
Gabe and his brother Mason were at Northern Iowa last weekend and both earned an offer UNI. Both also have an offer from UWGB plus Gabe picked up a Marquette over the summer.
“I got to meet the other coaches during the visit for the first time but I had previously met coach Wojo and coach Nelson,” Gabe said.
“Both are super nice guys and it’s cool that they both played at high major colleges. The facilities are state of the art and it’s a really awesome campus.”
Now living in Minnesota the Gophers are of course a team also showing strong interest
“They’ve just expressed that they’re coming down to watch us workout,” Gabe said. “The Gopher program has improved a lot over the past years. A seven seed last year in the tournament I believe and then this year adding Isaiah Washington.
“So I think it’s definitely a program on the rise.”
For now Gabe has some personal goals that he has set for his individual play and that is his focus.
“I want to be a more relentless rebounder, be locked in on D every possession, and make my teammates better.”