Prospect Report: Ryan Bergen (2018)
Ryan Bergen (2018), 6’2, Solon can do a little bit of everything on the floor, but the one skill that stands out would be his ability to shoot the deep ball.
As a junior, he connected on 37 3-pointers (41 percent) while averaging around 7 points and 6.5 boards per game. This summer he’s worked hard on his game and conditioning resulting in him losing 33 pounds.
A three-year letter winner in high school, Bergen plays bigger than he looks as he often plays the ‘5’ for his undersized high school team.
“I play hard and try to be the hardest worker on the court because that’s the only thing I can take care of,” said Bergen.
Bergen plays along side Sincere Carry (2018) and Michael Bekelja (2019), a pair of guards who have already both landed offers from Division II schools.
On offense, during his junior year and during AAU this summer he consistently displayed the ability to get open and connect from beyond the 3-point arc.
“He’s a phenomenal shooter. He knocks down open 3s,” said John Silva, who coached Bergen on TNBA West Flash in AAU this summer.
“I think his shooting is the first thing that translates to the college level,” said Bergen’s high school coach, Tony DeCesare.
He also uses a good ball fake to create space, which can allow him to take the ball to the rim. And having played inside the last two years it’s allowed him to develop an ability to finish inside.
Defensively, he has great instincts and because he’s played the 4 or 5 in high school, he’s developed into a strong rebounder, Silva said.
“He’s explosive down there,” Silva said. “He can finish up at the rim, he’s got a variety of moves and can finish with both hands.”
A gym rat, he’s worked with a personal coach to improve on other parts of his during the summer offseason. He also lifts, works out on his speed and agility and trains with a skills coach.
“I just try to be the hardest worker because that’s the only thing I can take care of,” said Bergen.
He’ll also be a great team player.
“His work ethic, his coachability, I think he’ll fit into a role at the next level, buy into the culture at the next level, he’ll embrace those things,” DeCesare pointed out. “Ryan’s as good a teammate as I’ve had in the program and as hard a worker,” added DeCesare.