Prospect Spotlight: Madison Ontjes (2020)

<span style="font-weight: 400">Nickerson 2020 point guard Madison Ontjes is looking forward to a big bounce back senior season after suffering an injury during the offseason.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A leader at the point, Ontjes brings quickness and quickness to the court and brings an unselfish quality to the floor. She can drive to the basket or spot up and shoot. She helped Nickerson finish fourth at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament last year, averaging 14 points, four rebounds, six steals and 78 made 3-pointers.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Ontjes missed much of the summer after suffering an injury during team camp and says since her injury she has mostly focused on improving her ball handling and free throws.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Ontjes had surgery on July 10 and expects to be released the beginning of January. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“My physical therapist have commented about how well I’m progressing,” she said. “I’ve been working really hard in rehab because I have a desire to get back on the court to help my team and hopefully go back to state this year. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“It’s been a difficult process because it’s my senior year and I’m missing out on things you take for granted on being available for you because you don’t think an injury like that will happen to you.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Ontjes says her dad has had the biggest impact on her basketball career to date.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“He has been coaching me since kindergarten and has a great knowledge of basketball,” Ontjes saud. “After every game we discuss the things I did well as well as things I can work on to improve for my next game.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A fan of UConn women’s basketball, Ontjes says she especially enjoys watching their point guard Crystal Dangerfield.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“She is my height and plays a similar style of game,” Ontjes said. “I enjoy watching the way she sees the court and the types of passes she makes.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Ontjes has drawn interest from Bethel, Sterling, Benedictine, Garden City, Newman University and Emporia State for basketball, and Sterling, York, and Garden City for soccer.</span>