Prospect Spotlight: Nate Wagner (2017)

LENEXA, Kan. — Despise suffering a season ending injury during the offseason, Gardner-Edgerton 2017 guard Nate Wagner has drawn interest from a host of college programs this fall. A 6-foot-4, 165-pound wing, Wagner is a versatile player that can shoot 3's well and create offense without doing too much. Most of Wagner's offense comes from running defenders off screens, or posting up and finishing inside. He sees the floor very well and sets teammates up for good shots. "I am a good positional rebounder and have the capability to throw full court outlet passes accurately and in stride for my teammates," he said. Wagner has offers from Morningside College and Nebraska Wesleyan and recently drew an offer from Doane University after a visit to the camps on Dec. He has also taken an official visit to Morningside and Nebraska Wesleyan and plans to visit Saint Mary soon around his team's game schedule. Wagner played his grassroots basketball for the Kansas City Pacers each of the past three years and focused this summer on improving his mobility and athleticism and refined his shooting form to increase his range to the 3-point line. "The Pacers have taught me how to play freely and read my defender within a motion offense," he said. Unfortunately, Wagner tore his labrum in his hip preparing for the high school season and will be out for the season. "Even though I can not play, I still strive to be the best teammate I can be whether that be helping scout our opponents offenses or running a scoreboard during practice," he said. "I wish my team the best for this upcoming season and will be with them every game." Wagner said he had the Trailblazers' contest against Bishop Miege and his fellow Pacer teammate Jeremiah Garrett circled on the schedule on Feb. 3. "We worked out together all summer and are very close friends," Wagner said. "That game would have definitely been for bragging rights when we return to the Pacers after the high school season ends." Wagner said he enjoys watching the Spurs' Kawhi Leonard play and is impressed by how much he has improved throughout his short carer. "I like that he lets his game do all the talking," Wagner said. "I also like watching the San Antonio Spurs and how they always find the extra pass to turn a good shot into a great shot, and have put that into my game."