Recruiting Report: Matt Onken (2019)
6-foot-4/6-foot-5 Marshall power forward Matt Onken is tactically one of the better 2019s up front in Minnesota. His consistency, toughness, and skilled approach have led to constant Ws for his teams.
Marshall went 23-5 last winter with Onken giving his team 13 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. The Tigers will lose a very talented player in Trey Lance plus two other important seniors but expectations are always high.
“We lost three starters but have most of the reserves coming back and most of us will be juniors and seniors so expectations will be pretty high,” Onken said. “Should be a top contender in the conference and sections again.”
Onken is a long time member of the Southwest Minnesota Stars which is a strong Grassroots program in southern Minnesota that always plays tough team basketball.
“The top moments of this 17u season have been earlier this month at NHR state and showing the complete team defense we can play,” Onken said. “We’ve been competitive with almost every team we’ve played, unfortunately lost on a couple buzzer beaters.
“It’s been fun to see us learning from those games to make sure it won’t happen again.”
The Stars are 12-9 on the year heading into the summer of play. The Stars have good wins this year beating top ten teams WOTN and Comets K plus Select and Heat Henderson as well.
“We hope to keep improving every tournament and prove that small town, southwest Minnesota can play ball too.”
The Stars as a team have something to prove. Now Onken has things he wants to prove to himself in how he can get better.
“Personally, I want to improve my jumpshot and ball-handling. I’m comfortable with both as of now, but I want to be more consistent with my jumper.”
Onken will play in college, he’s too tough, too smart, and too skilled not to.
“I’ve been talking to quite a few D3 and NAIA schools, and have heard from a couple D2 schools as well,” Matt said. “I am planning on going on some visits later this summer and fall, and plan to go to quite a few camps this summer as well.”