Prospect Spotlight: Maddie Niemeier (2021)

<span style="font-weight: 400">One of Missouri’s top junior forwards, Liberty North Maddie Niemeier is gearing up for a big season after a strong offseason. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A 6’1 inside-out forward, Niemeier has put in a lot of work on her inside game and has shown a strong, all-around game.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I have worked a lot on my inside game and being able to play more commonly for my size but as well as keeping my shot fluid,” she said. “I have worked very hard on getting in shape and being as strong and athletic as possible as I know this will help my game. I would say I am very unselfish by always looking for the best shot we can get and always trying to help my teammates and I to the best of our abilities. Team first has always been very important to me.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Niemeier says she wasn’t satisfied with her performance on the court as a sophomore and has worked hard to take her game to new heights.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I feel there is always room to improve,” she said. “This summer I worked a lot to improve my game and be able to handle the ball and score inside a lot more frequently. However every chance I got I was always competing and trying to help my team to a win.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">To that end, Niemeier spent the offseason competing with KC Run GMC and says the experience helped her game evolve.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I was pushed by coaches and teammates who helped me get tougher, gain confidence, and most importantly improve me as a player,” Niemeier says. “I feel this really helped me for this season because being surrounded by other girls who have the motivation to play at a high level like you do, it always makes you push each other which is very helpful in improving.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">After going 15-12 overall last year. expectations are high the season at Liberty North as the team opened with a hard fought 51-49 win over Lee’s Summit West.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I am super excited for this season,” Niemeier said. “My team is very close and I think our bond will help us succeed this year. Our expectations are very high because we want to do something Liberty North has never done before. We want to try and make a run at state and get as far as possible. We all worked all summer to improve our game by playing aau and I think that was very beneficial for us.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Niemeier says her Dad has had the biggest impact on her basketball career to date.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“He was my coach for eight years and he always was pushing me to be the best I could be,” she says. “He knows when to encourage and when to correct me. But I definitely think he has been the most influential person in my basketball career. Even though some of the talks we’ve had haven’t always been easy, they’ve definitely shaped me into the player I’ve become. He is my biggest critic and supporter.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A fan of WNBA star Maya Moore, Niemeier says she also enjoys watching Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart among others.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I really enjoy watching women’s college basketball and the WNBA,” she says. “I think it just really inspires me to push myself so one day hopefully I can play on that stage. Maya Moore is my favorite player and she is always pushing herself to be better even at the level she is at and that is so motivating to me. I think for sure watching players like Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart have really inspired me also by watching their moves and how hard they work to score.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Niemeier says she drew her first offer from Truman State and has drawn interest from several other programs as well.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I am very excited to see what the future has to hold,” she says. </span>