Recruiting Report: Charlie Irmiger (2016)
Update from 11/18/15 by Alex Conover The last seven days have been big for Winona State as first-year coach Todd Eisner continues to mold the program. On November 11, WSU landed SPA/Fury guard Dalante Peyton, our #20-ranked prospect in the…
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Continue ReadingUpdate from 11/18/15 by Alex Conover
The last seven days have been big for Winona State as first-year coach Todd Eisner continues to mold the program.
On November 11, WSU landed SPA/Fury guard Dalante Peyton, our #20-ranked prospect in the class of 2016. On the 16th, 6-foot-10 Wisconsin big man Spencer Treder became a Warrior. And yesterday night, 7-foot Washburn/Select center Charlie Irmiger gave his pledge.
“I chose Winona because I really liked the coaches there, and I thought their style of play would fit well with what I do as a player,” he told NHR. “I decided to commit after watching them play their season opener; they are a really talented team and I think Dalante, Sam (Baker) and I will be able to help them win another championship.”
Irmiger also liked how the staff expressed their desire to sign him. With Mo Ben Ammar graduating this spring, they’ll need size moving forward.
“I really liked how the coaches there were recruiting me really hard. I could tell that they really believed that I would fit in well with their program,” he added.
Irmiger picked WSU among offers from Sioux Falls, Concordia-St. Paul, Minot State and Rockhurst, although the first three had recently signed other big men. Washburn begins its regular season play against Cretin-Derham Hall on Nov. 24.
Update from 8/24/15 by Alex Conover
You know Charlie Irmiger’s story by now. The 7-footer made major strides this summer, working with Mitch Ohnstad and playing grassroots with Minnesota Select. The biggest strides he may have made were in his confidence as a big man, and the progress was evident.
“This last year of AAU basketball has really helped me improve in every way,” Charlie told NHR. “I’m really lucky to have started working with Mitch Ohnstad, he knows just about everyone in the business and has a ton of connections. I had a lot of the physical tools already, but he got me to actually use them, and improved my basketball I.Q., too.”
Charlie racked up offers from Minot State, Sioux Falls, Rockhurst and Concordia-St. Paul this summer. He’s got an impending visit to Rockhurst planned, but no campus visits beyond that.
“I’m looking at how the schools would develop me and how the program would work with me,” he said. “I know that Concordia has a 7-2 kid, and that’s a plus because I know they have experience working with guys in that height range.”
Today was his first day of school as a senior at Minneapolis Washburn H.S. They lost some great senior guards, but junior Cortez Adams is a guard that Charlie mentioned as a solid contributor coming up the ranks.
Update from 4/21/15 by Alex Conover
Charlie Irmiger, the 7-foot-tall 2016 prospect from Minneapolis Washburn, is perhaps the biggest question mark headed into grassroots play.
Will he go D3 for immediate playing time and growth? Or will he head D2 or D1 and gain a scholarship and a roster spot in large thanks to his height? Seven-footers are a hot commodity, and they tend to attract scholarship offers. Plus, Charlie’s definitely got the potential.
The good news for Charlie is that he’s working with coach Mitch Ohnstad. Mitch helped Ryan Keenan two summers ago as the 6-foot-10 prospect from East Ridge played his way to a Pepperdine scholarship. Irmiger could be headed towards the same kind of development.
“I have some of the physical gifts that I need, but Mitch has taught me technique and when to use my size,” Irmiger said. “A lot of footwork. I’m actively learning, every time I work with him I’m getting a ton better. I think I need to work on mental stuff: being aggressive, having confidence. I’m pretty quiet, not a big celebration guy. After a dunk I’ll just walk back.”
Schools have already began reaching out, and there are definitely more to come.
“Three or four D1s have talked to me, and also some D2s,” Irmiger said. “Letters, phone calls, texts. Air Force, University of Mary, Sam Houston State, Sioux Falls, Minot State.”
At this point, he’s playing things slow. He’ll re-evaluate at the end of the grassroots season.
“I’m waiting until the summer is over to see how things go,” Irmiger said. “Then I’ll make any big decisions about schools and what I want to major in. I would preferably want to play D1, but it depends on the situation.”