Prospect Update: Nathan Michels (2019)
One of Iowa’s most improved players over the past two years, Benton guard Nathan Michels has spent his offseason lighting it up on the camp circuit and with the Iowa Barnstormers, and is poised for a huge senior season,
The 6-foot-4 senior has bulked up, and improved his jumper. It didn’t hurt that he played against some of the nation’s best competition this summer with the Barnstormers 17U Silver squad.
“Playing with the Barnstormers helped me a lot. Their program is great and I developed my inside game as well as working on my 3-point shot,” said Michels. “The weight-room has really helped me out too; I’m hoping to be able to finish in the lane better this season, so players will have to guard me inside and out.”
And it was this summer with the ‘Stormers where Michels really started hitting his stride, and blossomed into a star.
“The beginning of the spring, we were all trying to find our role, but come July and the live periods, I started really playing well. And I think my outside game an my 3-point jumper was the main effect I made,” said Michels.
“Also, being in the weight room throughout the summer and the spring was a big help, I’ve been able to get to the rim and finish a lot easier. And dunking is becoming more of my game as well, so I’m excited to show out this winter.”
As a junior at Benton, Michels had a breakout season. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. This season, with standout 2018 Spencer Touro graduated, look for Michels’ numbers to increase across the board.
“Spencer was a great player for us, but we have a lot of upcoming players that will support us well,” said Michels. “I’m really excited for all of us and I feel like we’ll be able to do something big this year.”
All the recent success has garnered Michels a lot of college interest. “NAIAs Clarke, Mount Mercy and Grand View have all told me they want me there. I’ve talked to Coe and Central and I’ll be doing visits to those colleges here soon,” said Michels.
With a potential monster senior season ahead, Michels says he’ll wait a while to make a college decision.
“I’m going to wait until spring time because I think I could have a really good breakout winter,” he said. “And I think that could help me out a lot.”
Nathan Michels is ranked by Prep Hoops as a top 75 prospect in his class.