Recruiting Update – Max Elmgren (2024 Beaverton)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been quite the year - and high school career - for [player_tooltip player_id='1197477' first='Max' last='Elmgren']. The tough 6-foot-1 guard recently topped the 1000 point career mark at Beaverton and through his clutch play has helped the Beavers toward making another run at the state tournament. While there's no question that playing at the next level is on his mind, it's currently on the back burner as Elmgren and the Beavers try to reach their goals this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We've been playing hard, playing well," Elmgren said. "The loss of [player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] has definitely hurt us, especially early in Metro, but it's given the opportunity to a bunch of our bench guys or guys that wouldn't see as much time to kind of step up and fill roles. I mean, [player_tooltip player_id='2026756' first='Ahmed' last='Abalo'] and Aidan Gellatly, they're stepping up huge for us."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Individually, Elmgren has certainly done his part. The lefty with the lethal pull-up jumper has averaged over 17 points per game, and when the game's on the line there may be no guy you'd rather give the rock with his clutch gene. It's all things the senior has embraced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"This year I definitely have the ball more in my hands, which has been more enjoyable, but it also carries a little more pressure," Elmgren said. "But it's kind of fun getting to control the pace, tempo, get guys to where they need to be, and then I think the most fun thing for me is like getting to see my teammates succeed and win. It's been fun."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elmgren is a bona-fide college basketball prospect, especially combined with his academic resume. As a result, it's no surprise he's heard from most of the schools in the Northwest Conference and he's also considering the possibility of going to a Division I school like Oregon or Oregon State and walking on. Another high-academic school has also been in contact and it's definitely caught his interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I've been talking to one school in Missouri, WashU (Washington University of St. Louis)", Elmgren said. "If I can get in there, that'd be a good spot academically and a good place to play basketball. Academics for me is definitely a huge thing -I like school and I like learning. And if I'm in a program where I just feel welcome, where people are going to push me every day to be a better person on the court, but also off the court - that's something that's going to prepare me for after four years of college."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elmgren is keeping all his options open and figures to make a decision when the season is over - one in which he has high hopes for the last few weeks. "I think this team could go all the way - we hold our own destiny," Elmgren said. "For us, it's really coming into every game prepared and locked in - we can beat about any team. We're playing hard and playing well and the return of [player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] will be good too, but just because we have him back doesn't mean we can take our foot off the gas."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elmgren currently ranks as the #30 player in the recently updated Oregon Class of 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->