Prospect Watch: Gage Gruenhagen (2018)
At 6-foot-2 and about 190 pounds Gage Gruenhagen is battler. Football, basketball, it doesn’t matter. Gage gives to De Smet what he has.
Gage plays both wing spots for the Bulldog basketball team that had a tough winter winning games but they were young with only two seniors. It was a transition year, and a learning year.
“I had to step up and fill a major roll after losing so many seniors,” Gage told PHD. “I had to adjust to having the ball in my hand more often than usual and adjust to being guarded by better defenders.
“This winter I will always remember how me and my teammates stayed together through tough wins and losses and how we always kept our heads high.”
Gage is the type of athlete that will do whatever he is asked to. Defending top players as a young hooper on a good team, tackling everybody last fall on the football field, and next winter he has goals so he can lead the basketball team in whatever they need.
Is he capable? Ask St. Mary’s or Irene-Wakonda. Teams that De Smet played and Gage scored nearly half of his team’s points in beating St. Mary and almost beating I-W.
“I want to improve my mid range pull-up jump shot, on ball defense, and become a more consistent set shooter,” Gruenhagen said.
Gage has played with the Pentagon Regional squad with Coach Dan Jewett that has played eleven games thus far.
“These first events have challenged me defensively I have learned how to handle pressure better and compete with better athletes,” Gage said.
So will it be college hoops? College football? Both? Neither? Right now Gage likes the idea but really isn’t sure yet.
“I would enjoy being a student athlete in either basketball or football, and no there is no where specific I’m currently looking at.”
The goals for Gage are simple right now.
“I want to grow my game and become the best I can as a player and a teammate,” Gage said.