Recruiting Report: Brandon Maatz (2020)
The Buffalo Bison have come on as one of the more talented cores in recent years and though they have taken some hits in depth as of late, the window for contention in 2019-20 remains. 5-10 senior sharpshooter Brandon Maatz…
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Continue ReadingThe Buffalo Bison have come on as one of the more talented cores in recent years and though they have taken some hits in depth as of late, the window for contention in 2019-20 remains. 5-10 senior sharpshooter Brandon Maatz is definitely one of the key pieces of that core.
Buffalo was 22-7 last season, falling in the section 8 final to Maple Grove for the second time in as many years. Maatz enters his senior season alongside big guard and shot-maker Matthew Willert, sophomore guard Antonio Bluiett and senior worker Trevor Johnson. The Bison will be without paint presence Aidan Bouman (headed to Iowa State early for football) and could be missing do-everything forward Tony Dahl for most of the year after an ACL tear just weeks ago. Nevertheless, Maatz is confident in the well-rounded abilities the team possesses.
“We expect to be very competitive in the Lake Conference and compete to win a section final and get over that hump into the state tournament,” he told NHR. “We have some yong guys that will fill the gaps.”
Dahl does most of the playmaking, Willert can score from anywhere, and Bouman was a stout defender and rim scorer. But with some aforementioned gaps to be filled, Maatz will be relied on for more than just his reputation as a knockdown three-point shooter. He knows that and has responded accordingly.
“My main goal is to add strength in the weight room,” he said. “I think throughout the past year I’m not only a three-point shooter but a playmaker and tough defender as well. I’ve worked extremely hard on these two things and I think it will show.”
Maatz ran the AAU circuit with Comets Liljequist this year and got to experience a new role offensively with the ball in his hands more often making plays for others. His team will need that going forward. It’s also caught the attention of schools in the area, ones that seem to be fitting the kind of program he’s looking for.
“The schools that have been most in contact with me are St. Scholastica, Augsburg and Northwestern-St. Paul,” Maatz said. “I’m looking for a school that will fit me academically, socially and spiritually.”