Recently scoring his 1,000th career high school point for Napoleon, Kruse is a prospect with three NAIA offers from Kentucky Christian, Lourdes and Defiance. His shooting ability and vertical pop for a prospect his size makes him an easy scholarship target for regional programs. A game that will translate easily to the college level, Kruse’s feel for the game and efficiency are skills that will get him on the court early at the college level. It’ll be fun to track Kruse’s college career once he makes a decision on where he’s attending next season.

Kruse is one of a few players I think can be instant plug-and-play guys at the next level. He has a great size, standing at 6’6, and big kid. A super strong body that knows how to use it to create contact and absorb it. He can shoot the heck out of the ball too. He is effective in the paint; on the boards and on second chance points. Kruse is a next-level player.

A scholarship talent, Kruse showed why he’s one of the better forwards in NW Ohio on Sunday. With a couple transition dunks showing off his explosiveness in transition. Knocking down a handful of perimeter shots as well, Kruse can score it from a bunch of different spots on the floor. After watching Kruse probably around a dozen times in his career, Sunday was just another example of what he’s going to bring to the next level. So far Kentucky Chrisitan and host of this event Lourdes have offered this talented wing forward.

Kruse is very similar to Nate Miles Nate Miles 6'5" | SF Tennessee Colegiate Prep | 2026 TN as he is a very big body wing who can play inside and out equally as well. His big body is a huge presence in the paint and transition. He is a hard player to stop once he gets it going. He is a sneakily good athlete as well. He can finish over and through you with both hands. He is also a sharpshooter. He has a smooth stroke and a ton of confidence so he will get it up. He needs little to no space to get his shot up and it will usually go in. He also does the dirty work very well. He gets rebounds and hustles all the time.

I’ve been a big fan of Kruse for a while. He is just a very nice modern big forward. He is listed at 6’6 and is a thick strong kid. He also moves really well though. This allows him to do damage from inside and out. He can guard a lot of positions but does best against bigs and using his strength abasing them. He is a knockdown shooter with great range.

A teammate of Martin’s, Kruse was knocking down shots from everywhere on the court Saturday morning. Kruse was knocking down spot-up 3-pointers, turnaround jumpers, contested mid-range shots and 3-pointers running off screens. It was a very impressive shot-making display. A solid athlete when he gets a head of steam, I’d like to see Kruse continue to work on his lateral quickness to help him on both ends against smaller and quicker players. This would also make it easier for Kruse to finish at the rim, where he missed a couple layups he’d like to have back. Recently offered by Kentucky Christian, they won’t be the last school to get involved with Kruse if he continues to play at this level.

Kruse first got onto our radar playing on the Prep Hoops Circuit, he’s since moved programs to play with Ohio Buckets – Young but we’ve followed his growth as a prospect and like the developments he’s made. Improving as an athlete was our biggest intrigue as Kruse is now dunking the ball consistently on the fast break and is a good athlete when he gets a head of steam. Kruse has always been a good shooter from the outside and with his size and coordination, he’s a unique inside-outside threat from the power forward position. I expect Kruse to pick up significant scholarship interest this spring and summer with both the Ohio Buckets and Napoleon.

Kruse really took a leap from the summer to the winter, becoming more athletic and explosive while also improving his 3-point shooting ability. Having a really big junior season for Napoleon, Kruse is looking like a scholarship target for schools looking for a wing forward who can space the floor, bring size and athleticism. I’m excited to catch Kruse this summer to see if he winds up taking another leap.

Kruse looked exceptionally better than the last time I watched him during AAU season with a good showing in Columbus. I loved how competitive he played on both ends of the floor, turning defense into offense and looking comfortable in transition. Seemingly quicker on the bounce.

Kruse is a kid that I keep liking more and more. The last time I saw him play he showcased his three-point shooting ability, at this expo, he impressed me with his ability to get to the rack. Kruse is a very big body and he really used it well. He is like a truck on a basketball court. Tall and big. He also has good elevation when he jumps, so get in his way if you dare.