Recruiting Report: Max Nielson (2020)
Five-foot-11 point guard Max Nielson of Sioux Valley High School is an All-State player and one of the elite guards in South Dakota. College coaches have taken notice. “I picked up my first offer from Dakota State back in October…
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Continue ReadingFive-foot-11 point guard Max Nielson of Sioux Valley High School is an All-State player and one of the elite guards in South Dakota. College coaches have taken notice.
“I picked up my first offer from Dakota State back in October than I just recently was offered by Dordt a few weeks ago,” Max told Prep Hoops.
“Then I’ve been talking to University of Jamestown, Briar Cliff, Dakota Wesleyan, Black Hills State, Bemidji State, University of Sioux Falls, Northern State, University of Mary, and University of Hawaii. Both of the offers are schools I received I had taken visits to. Then, I took a visit to Northern State around November. But that’s all of the visits I have taken as of now.”
Max led Sioux Valley to a 15-6 season as a junior averaging 20 points and six assists shooting 50 percent from the floor and 89 percent from the foul line. Expectations are high for the Cossacks next year and the team is about to hit some summer work in a big way.
“Getting started here next weekend, my high school team and I are going to start hitting some team camps,” Max said. “We’ll be going to Augustana, Northern State, and South Dakota State. Then personally, I’m going to be going to some Elite Camps over the summer.
“I lift in the mornings every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Then every night I come back up and shoot and get in about an hour long workout.”
With all the time in the gym Max has his a focus of his off-season work. “I am always trying to get stronger and faster and more explosive. Really right now, I am working on changing speeds and adding that midrange to my game.”
Nielson and Ryan Schuster will be the best senior duo in Class A basketball next season and Kelton Vincent is an excellent junior returning. Add in all the young players and there’s reason to be optimistic at Sioux Valley.
“In terms of talent and potential to me we couldn’t be looking any better,” Max stated. “We’re returning mostly everyone. All of our starters from last years post-season are returning so that in itself looks good.
“Then also just between the other starters and I, and some other players that came off the bench last year, we are all playing on some AAU team and working out. So the talent and potential couldn’t be looking any better.”
Max is competing with the Pentagon Schoolers squad that is 9-1 in SPTS play and 15-3 overall this season.
“AAU wise we only have 2 tourneys left. We are in Atlanta on July 10-14 and the Pentagon (Sioux Falls) July 19-21.
“Definitely the highlight so far this season has been heading to Atlanta and competing at a high level each game and then so far going 9-1 in league play.”
Max made a name for himself down south when he went seven of seven from the arc in a game against Belmont Shore (California) back in April. The Schoolers made the Final Four in the Terrific 24 event that weekend in Atlanta.