HIGH SCHOOL

Heldt to play basketball at Marquette

Tim Froberg
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

NEENAH – Neenah's big man is headed to the Big East Conference.

It's a decision that Matt Heldt is very comfortable with.

The Rockets' 6-foot-10 senior signed his national letter of intent with Marquette University Wednesday — the first day that college-bound athletes were allowed to do so — after giving the Golden Eagles a verbal commitment in July.

Heldt had numerous scholarship offers, but narrowed the field to Marquette, Davidson (N.C) and Northern Iowa, before going with the home-state Golden Eagles.

Heldt, who received a four-star ranking (out of five) by ESPN, joins an outstanding recruiting class by first-year head coach Steve Wojciechowski that is ranked fourth nationally by ESPN Recruiting Nation. Henry Ellenson, another 6-10 player and a five-star recruit from Rice Lake, is considered to be the centerpiece of the class.

"The guys coming in around me are super good and that's a great feeling," said Heldt. "I knew right after the first time that I met coach Wojo (Wojciechowski) that they were going to be the front-runner. He's a people person and he coached under one of the greatest coaches ever (Mike Krzyzewski) at Duke. So that's exciting."

Heldt isn't sure what to expect his freshman season and hasn't been told whether he will redshirt or compete immediately for game minutes.

"It's all going to depend really on practice," said Heldt. "Players earn their minutes in practice. Whatever happens, happens. I just want to help the team as much as I can. I really want to improve as a player, but the team is always going to come first for me. Whether I'm playing zero minutes or however many, I always want help the team. I think I'll probably be battling with Luke Fischer (a transfer from Indiana) for the five spot."

Heldt averaged 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks as a junior, sharing Fox Valley Association player of the year honors with Neenah teammate Adam Pohlman.

"I think Matt will probably be a four or five (spot) guy for them," said Neenah coach Scott Bork. "He's worked hard to develop more of an outside game, so he's not strictly a back to the basket guy. But he has a little bit of old school to him. You don't see a lot of kids in the post who have developed post moves. Everyone wants to shoot the three, but he's got post moves and he continues to develop other skills.

"I think Matt's best basketball is in front of him. Two or three years down the road, I think you're going to see something special."

Heldt transferred to Neenah following his freshman season at Appleton West and became a three-year starter for the Rockets. He has good shooting range for a big player and is also a solid passer.

"Matt's made huge strides," said Bork. "He came in with some hype, but not a lot of bulk. His skill set has always been pretty good, but his biggest strides physically have been in the weight room. He bought in immediately the first summer he was here, coming at six in the morning to work out and has dedicated himself to it. He's put himself where his body is ready to play at the Division 1 level."

At his signing, Heldt was quick to thank all the coaches who have worked with him at various levels, including Bork and his Neenah coaching staff.

"When I started high school, I never thought I'd end up at Marquette," said Heldt. "I wasn't thinking Division 1. But then I really started to improve and started thinking, maybe I can play somewhere. I'm really happy that I can finalize this. It's kind of like a dream and this is proof that it's really happening."

Heldt feels the key to his college basketball success is to keep getting stronger.

"At the next level, centers are really big, strong guys, so I've got to be able to battle down there," said Heldt. "I need to get stronger, and I need to be more consistent in the post and with my outside shooting."

Heldt shared his special day with Neenah teammate Trevor Entwisle, who signed to play Division 2 college basketball at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

"I think it will be a good fit for him and I think he'll get an opportunity to get minutes right away," said Bork. "Trevor is a kid who is ultra-competitive and that's going to help him a lot. He's not a 6-4 kid, but he makes the absolute most out of everything he has."

In addition to Heldt and Entwisle, Neenah diver Hazel Hertting also signed a national letter of intent Wednesday.

Hertting, the state's defending Division 1 diving champ, with compete next season at the University of Wisconsin.

Other signings

Appleton East volleyball standout Makenzie Morgen signed her letter of intent to play in college at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, a Division I school in the America East Conference.

"I toured a bunch of different schools and was looking for kind of a city feel," Morgen said. "I went out there but I didn't get a chance to meet anybody the first time. But I knew I really liked the school. I went back again and stayed with the players and I realized I fell in love with it. It was awesome."

Morgen was the Fox Valley Association player of the year this season and a second-team all-state selection.

Alanna Beyer of New London and Jenna Smarzinski of Kimberly signed to play softball at UW-Green Bay. Smarzinski was a first-team all-state selection last year and Beyer was second team on the Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association all-state team.

Little Chute's Abbie Botz signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Michigan Tech.

Wrightstown volleyball star Abby Verheyen signed to play at Division II UW-Parkside. Verheyen was a second-team all-Olympian Conference player this fall.

"Officially signed as a Ranger!!" Verheyen tweeted Wednesday.

Kimberly's Francesca Wurtz signed to play basketball at UW-Green Bay.

"Frankie is solid as a rock in her fundamental skills, and is a tireless worker," UWGB coach Kevin Borseth said. "She understands the value of teamwork, yet has the individual ability to take it to another level when called upon. Frankie will be a gym rat and work to make her teammates better as well."

Megan Kleist of Kimberly, a first-team all-state pitcher as a junior, signed to play softball at the University of Oregon.

"Today's the day I officially become a Duck," Kleist said on Twitter.

Xavier's Brady Stolzman signed to play baseball at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Northern State is a Division II school in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Kimberly football standout Sam Plucker has given a verbal commitment to play at Division I Montana State. The Papermakers linebacker committed without taking an official visit. He plans to make an official visit after the season. Plucker had also received interest from Central Michigan, Drake, Holy Cross, Illinois State and North Dakota State.

The Post-Crescent will report other signings as they are announced.

— Tim Froberg: 920-993-1000, ext. 423, tfroberg@postcrescent.com, on Twitter @twfroberg