Class of 2027 Ian VanWagner (Potsdam, NY)

[RyanCuse44]

They are playing Marcellus right now and been a low scoring game, now in the 3rd quarter. I just started watching a few minutes ago. If you have NFHS you can watch it.

Kid is pretty tough for only being a fresh.

 

[RyanCuse44]

His team lost 61-49. Announcers seemed to indicate that he had an off night.

 

[jordville]

 

[nocohalo]

Living in the north country and having several friends in the section X coaching/teaching ranks, I still haven't heard anything definitive as far him going to prep school. Last I heard was that he wanted to stay at Potsdam. He has a really good coach that everyone loves to play for and the team is poised to remain successful the next few years. Doesn't mean he won't leave for prep school so this isn't definitive or anything.

Every time I try to play devil's advocate to come up with something working against him I'm always reminded how young he is. Easy to forget he's only a sophomore. His game is pretty refined already. If he grew a bit more he'd probably immediately start getting high level scholarship offers as soon as he was able to. Right now he's a bit of a tweener with respect to division I competition, but again he's only a soph.

 

[jordville]

Ian and Potsdam have been off to a good start. He is moving up the NY all-time scoring ranks…

 

[jordville]

 

[jordville]

 

[Hopkins16]

He’s doing this against below average competition. He has a chance to step up and grow by transferring to a good prep school. If not, best case scenario, but I doubt it, he is Girard lite.

 

[rychi32]

He’s doing this against below average competition. He has a chance to step up and grow by transferring to a good prep school. If not, best case scenario, but I doubt it, he is Girard lite.

Way lite. He had a shot if he prepped long ago. He didn’t for whatever reason, now he’s a D-3 starter at best.

 

[nocohalo]

Prep schools are hit or miss. There's a kid here from Canton that prepped a couple years ago after a great junior year and he's having a decent season this year as a frosh at Colgate. But there have been others where it didn't work out as well as it should have, Declan Porter being the most recent example though that was a post grad year. If a kid shows out in the summer circuit they will get recruited regardless of where they play high school ball.

Potsdam has won some good non league games but have already dropped 2 league games to Malone and Ogdensburg who they should be beating. Teams are scheming him a lot more even compared to last year.

I heard a couple seasons ago he wanted to stay at Potsdam throughout his career. So far that seems to be holding true. He can always do post grad somewhere if he wants, but the North Country likes having a player of his caliber hang around and he seems to like that dynamic too. Potsdam's coach is pretty popular and well regarded in section X hoops and he clearly likes playing for him.

He very well may have a d3 ceiling, but if that ends up being the case I selfishly hope my alma mater SLU nabs him. I've seen him at a couple games, and Potsdam's coach is also a SLU grad so you never know.

 

[brian williams]

Prep schools are hit or miss. There's a kid here from Canton that prepped a couple years ago after a great junior year and he's having a decent season this year as a frosh at Colgate. But there have been others where it didn't work out as well as it should have, Declan Porter being the most recent example though that was a post grad year. If a kid shows out in the summer circuit they will get recruited regardless of where they play high school ball.

Potsdam has won some good non league games but have already dropped 2 league games to Malone and Ogdensburg who they should be beating. Teams are scheming him a lot more even compared to last year.

I heard a couple seasons ago he wanted to stay at Potsdam throughout his career. So far that seems to be holding true. He can always do post grad somewhere if he wants, but the North Country likes having a player of his caliber hang around and he seems to like that dynamic too. Potsdam's coach is pretty popular and well regarded in section X hoops and he clearly likes playing for him.

He very well may have a d3 ceiling, but if that ends up being the case I selfishly hope my alma mater SLU nabs him. I've seen him at a couple games, and Potsdam's coach is also a SLU grad so you never know.

What year did you graduate from SLU? My sister and I are 1988 grads.

 

[Hopkins16]

Prep schools are hit or miss. There's a kid here from Canton that prepped a couple years ago after a great junior year and he's having a decent season this year as a frosh at Colgate. But there have been others where it didn't work out as well as it should have, Declan Porter being the most recent example though that was a post grad year. If a kid shows out in the summer circuit they will get recruited regardless of where they play high school ball.

Potsdam has won some good non league games but have already dropped 2 league games to Malone and Ogdensburg who they should be beating. Teams are scheming him a lot more even compared to last year.

I heard a couple seasons ago he wanted to stay at Potsdam throughout his career. So far that seems to be holding true. He can always do post grad somewhere if he wants, but the North Country likes having a player of his caliber hang around and he seems to like that dynamic too. Potsdam's coach is pretty popular and well regarded in section X hoops and he clearly likes playing for him.

He very well may have a d3 ceiling, but if that ends up being the case I selfishly hope my alma mater SLU nabs him. I've seen him at a couple games, and Potsdam's coach is also a SLU grad so you never know.

There are very good prep schools with a proven track record of developing talent. Also, a lot of it is up to the player - either he puts in the work and level up to the competition, or gets intimidated, doesn’t put in the work, or simply realizes that he’s reached his ceiling. But, you never know until you try.

It could also be that he is comfortable where he is and is okay with being a local HS legend, break state records and then end up with a scholarship on whatever college team D1 or 2 that he plays for.

 

[nocohalo]

What year did you graduate from SLU? My sister and I are 1988 grads.

2015. You got to see some great hockey during your time.

 

[nocohalo]

There are very good prep schools with a proven track record of developing talent. Also, a lot of it is up to the player - either he puts in the work and level up to the competition, or gets intimidated, doesn’t put in the work, or simply realizes that he’s reached his ceiling. But, you never know until you try.

It could also be that he is comfortable where he is and is okay with being a local HS legend, break state records and then end up with a scholarship on whatever college team D1 or 2 that he plays for.

He was never really pegged anything higher than potentially low/mid major in d1, defense just was never really at a high level, or least hasn't yet. He's still only a junior after all. I could see him at like a Marist/Binghamton type. His folks are doctors so he's a sharp kid, NESCAC/UAA will be calling him too.

 

[OburgOrange]

A little off topic, but there has been some recent north country kids making names for themselves. Jimmy Howard born and raised in Ogdensburg won a cup with the Detroit Red Wings.
And Jordan Greenwood from Canton currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres

 

[nocohalo]

A little off topic, but there has been some recent north country kids making names for themselves. Jimmy Howard born and raised in Ogdensburg won a cup with the Detroit Red Wings.
And Jordan Greenwood from Canton currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres

Carey Terrance is the most recent one. 2nd round pick and playing in the Rangers organization. North Country has punched way above its weight in terms of professional athletes. Can go all the way back to the Gogolak's from Ogdensburg. Tim Browning and Jim Deshaies from Massena/Malone, Rick Carlisle from Lisbon, Craig Conroy from Potsdam, Brian Leonard from Gouverneur. List goes on.

 

[brian williams]

2015. You got to see some great hockey during your time.

Yep. Lost the 1988 national championship game in Lake Placid.

 

[jordville]

Ian broke the All-Time Section X scoring record last night surpassing Missy West who held it for 30 years. Ian is still a Junior.

 

[cuseallday]

Ian broke the All-Time Section X scoring record last night surpassing Missy West who held it for 30 years. Ian is still a Junior.

Love this.

 

[nocohalo]

Game has changed. Section X's men's scoring record has been broken 3 times in the past 7 years. Before 2019 the record had stood since 1976, which was held by none other than Hal Cohen.