Recruiting Report: Maleeck Harden (2019)
The individual stories at Prep Hoops may say recruiting report – and schools are taking notice of the fantastic season that Maleeck Harden is having – but Maleeck only cares about the 15-3 season the Moorhead Spuds are having to…
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Continue ReadingThe individual stories at Prep Hoops may say recruiting report – and schools are taking notice of the fantastic season that Maleeck Harden is having – but Maleeck only cares about the 15-3 season the Moorhead Spuds are having to date.
The Spuds of Moorhead have now made five weekend trips to the Twin Cities taking on several teams from the north metro Twin Cities area. Wins over Buffalo, BSM, Fergus Falls, STMA, Rogers, Alexandria, St. Cloud Tech, and several others have put the team in a great spot.
“I think if you look at just wins and losses I think we are probably ahead of where I thought we would be,” Moorhead Coach Tyler Bormann said. “But I wasn’t surprised by our growth because by the end of last year we were playing really well. We upset St. Cloud Tech in the section tournament and then we lost to Buffalo by a basket at the end of the season. I thought at the end of last year we were playing good enough basketball to compete with everybody.
“We had a huge nucleus coming back with Maleeck being a big part of that and Drew Hagen being a big part of that. I haven’t been surprised that we are competing the way we are. We have found a way to win some games that, with some of the new faces we have I wasn’t sure we would be able to. I think that is a testament to Maleeck and Drew.”
Maleeck is scoring 21 points a game improving his ability as a perimeter shooter and as a scorer over hotly contesting defenders off the attack. Harden is better at the arc and a better defender as well.
“Maleeck brings infectious energy,” Coach Bromann explained. “He has a contagious energy for the way he plays the game. He will go get an offensive rebound that he has no business being able to go get. And that is what makes him so special to be honest. He plays with great energy and a great passion for the game and it rubs off on his teammates. That is what is huge for us.
“He brings that each day and our program has been transformed somewhat by that because our young guys see it and now they know that is how they have to play. He changes the game in a lot of different ways. It’s not all about scoring for Maleeck. He gets some important scores for us and he gets to the foul line often.
“I just think Maleeck is explosive but it’s not always explosive in terms of scoring. He can go get three or four offensive rebounds in a row. He can go make plays with his length and athleticism.”
Harden has taken a big step forward areas but it’s been his role as the captain and best player on the team that has taken him forward.
“I think Maleeck has embraced being a leader more than anything,” Coach Bromann explained. “He’s really started to understand the timing of where he is in his career, he’s living in the moment. He knows there is a sense of urgency. That’s been big.
“Off the floor Maleeck has become more of a student of the game. He’s more vocal in our film sessions and in our scouting reports. I think he’s matured in understanding the preparation of the game.
“Then from a skills stand point his ability to shoot from the perimeter has really taken a step forward. I think he’s shooting 41 percent from the three point line which is far better than most people expected.”
Matthew Hurt is clearly the top unsigned player/prospect in the senior class but after that the conversation only includes a few names and one of them is Maleeck. Harden has had a past final four schools of Minnesota State-Moorhead, Sioux Falls, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State. All have offered scholarships and Maleeck has visited those schools. But at the moment all Maleeck cares about is his senior season. Like coach said before Maleeck is living in the moment.
“What makes Maleeck special is that right now he is putting all of his time, energy, and focus into us,” Bromann said. “Maleeck is flattered by the attention he’s getting, he’s flattered by the offers, but I will never forget when Maleeck was offered by South Dakota State when we played Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
“He was very excited and humbled by the South Dakota State offer, but the first thing he said after it was ‘coach we got two this weekend’ (referring to beat Buffalo and BSM on back to back days). He had just received an offer from a very successful division one basketball team, but he was focused on the here and now. As a coach I really appreciate that and our program owes him for being who he is.
“But I agree that his ceiling is so high. There are parts of his game that he knows he needs to get better and we talk to him about the work he has to put in and that it will be tough no matter where he goes next year. And I think he is aware of that, but the ceiling is really high.”