Men's Basketball
VU signs Linssen,
a 6-foot-8 forward, to complete '17-'18 roster
Valparaiso has the final piece to its 2017-18 puzzle.
The Crusaders on Tuesday announced the signing of 6-foot-8 forward Marten Linssen of Germany. He verbally committed on Friday to the Crusaders, taking their last scholarship for the Class of 2017.
Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich likes Linssen's potential, praising his gritty style and willingness to work on improvement.
“Marten is very big, but very nimble,” Lottich said. “He has great hands. He can play the traditional post, but he can step out on the perimeter a little bit and be comfortable. We're excited about his versatility. The one thing he can do right away is rebound.”
Linssen played for the Bayer Giants Leverkusen, splitting time between their Pro B league team and their youth team. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 22 Pro B games, and 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds at the youth level.
Linssen's coach, Achim Kuczmann, coached Lottich when he played in Germany for Giants Dusseldorf in 2008-09.
“We've had a relationship,” Lottich said. “For years I've contacted him and asked if they had anyone who could play at the Division I level and he said no until this year. I know he's not blowing smoke.”
Linssen played in the U18 European Championship in 2016 in Turkey, helping Germany place fourth. His participation in the national program this summer was expected to affect when he arrives in Valparaiso, either in the summer or fall.
“I watched a lot of tape of him and talked to him a lot,” Lottich said. “We're excited about him. We think we have a heck of a player.”
The Crusaders in the fall signed incoming freshmen Mileek McMillan from Merrillville and Parker Hazen of Columbia City. In the spring, they added junior college transfer Markus Golder and Marquette graduate Ryan Fazekas, who will sit out next season after transferring from Providence.
“We are done,” Lottich said. “Our team is done for next year. We could redshirt someone; we have one transfer sitting out. But we have 12 eligible and we're excited about them.”
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