Recruiting Report: Michael Ziermann (2019)
30Lester Prairie guard Michael Ziermann finished his junior season leading his high school team in everything, yeah everything, and has now been a big part of Comets K winning 20 games and ranking with the best 17u teams in the state.
“My Comets team and I hope to add a championship trophy or two to the collection yet this summer,” Ziermann said about the year so far with Comets K. “We have been playing very well this summer and hope to keep that going. It has been a very fun summer with these guys so far!”
Comets K came into the weekend ranked fifth in the state and although they lost a game they would like to have back, the Comets K squad still won four of five and has improved to 20-7 on the year playing great team basketball. Ziermann has been a key part of the team scheme handling both a scoring role, and playing lead guard at times as well.
Comets K has earned some impressive wins this year locally (beat WOTN and 44 Elite in the Comets Shootout) and they had a nice showing in the Jayhawk Invitational.
“One of my top moments from my 17u season would have to be coming back from 20 points down against Team Carol Premier (one of the better programs out of Missouri),” Michael said. “We fought hard as a team and got hot and knocked off a very good team.
“We also made a very good run in our first tournament this year and knocked off some very good teams making it to the final four but eventually coming up short against a very good fury team. Another one of my favorite moments was hitting a buzzer beater to tie the game against Southwest Minnesota Stars in Sioux Falls and then hitting the game winner in over time.”
Ziermann knows something about shouldering a load. He led his high school team in scoring (16+ a game), rebounds (6.4), assists (4.9), steals (1.6), and blocks. The Bulldogs won a dozen games last year and bring everything back.
“In my senior year we will have almost everyone returning,” Michael explained. “Our starting five will return and we have some other young guys that I believe will really step up this year and help us do what we want to this year.
“My expectations for our team this year are set very high. This being my last campaign for a huge state tournament run. We will have to go through some very tough teams as we are in a very stacked section again this year (Section 2A is one of the most heavily loaded sections in the state) but my team and I are definitely up for the challenge. I expect to make a very deep playoff run!”
Ziermann has the physical ability to play college sports and that includes football where Michael has been the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs since his freshman season. QB and/or playmaking guard, that is what Michael has to consider as he heads into his senior year.
“I have been in contact with Concordia-Moorhead, Jamestown, Gustavus for basketball and football, St Thomas for football, and Chicago,” Michael said. “I have a visit set with Concordia-Moorhead, and I may attend the top 100 expo and possibly the Jamestown elite point guard camp.”
Before the first class of Michael’s senior year begins he has some summer items he wants to work on as a basketball player.
“Before my senior year I hope to improve on my pull up jumper and become a little more consistent in that area,” Ziermann explained. “I also want to work on my footwork on defense and for coming off screens in the catch and shoot situation.
“Lastly I would like to add a little post game to my Arsenal this year to out muscle defenders and give my team a little bit more of an inside presence as well as from the guard position.”
Michael has high expectations for himself but when it comes to competing at a high level I wouldn’t bet against him. He’s been a key piece to his high school athletic teams for three years already plus he’s a top playmaker on one of the best 17u teams in the state.