D1 schools find Joel Awich

Tartan power forward Joel Awich is the definition of an up and comer. The 6-foot-6 pogo stick of a forward has dramatically improved the last several years with the Titans and with his spring and summer teams. Joel went from a junior varsity player as a junior to a nine point per game scorer as a senior and now division one schools are following him close.

Awich played with the Minnesota Pump N Run this spring and summer playing in events in Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, California, and Las Vegas. Along the way division two schools watched him close in the spring and come July division ones were following along on the sidelines.

Awich's AAU coaches with the Pump N Run as well as high school coach Mark Klingsporn have heard from a handful of division one schools and it looks like a couple schools want to offer him.

"Joel has been offered by Cal Poly and New Hampshire," said Pump N Run Coach Clarence Bethea. "He is visiting New Hampshire the week of the 15th and Cal Poly next week. I'm so happy for this young man. He played himself into a full ride."

Minnesota Preps also talked with Coach Klingsporn last night who also confirmed that Awich has received scholarship offers from those two schools. The offers are likely pending on his officially visiting the Cal Poly and New Hampshire campuses which Joel plans to do in the coming weeks.

This summer Awich continued to show improvement on the road with the Pump N Run.

"Joel did a great job for us," said Bethea. "He grew both on and off the court. I was honored that I had the chance to be a part of his journey. He deserves all the success he is having."

Awich is a high achieving academic student as well as division one prospect. Last spring and summer Joel played with Wear Out the Net and Coach Mitch Ohnstad where Awich initially put himself on the recruiting scene. Now he is on the doorstep of a division one basketball opportunity.