Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175
Position: Point Guard
High School: Auburn
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois

Summary: Fred VanVleet committed to Wichita State early in the recruiting year, prior to the July evaluation period. At the time, Fred was rated the #2 player in Illinois and the #1 PG in Illinois, but didn’t have much national recognition. During the July evaluation period, his AAU team PrymeTyme lit up the AAU circuit, and Fred was said by many opponents and coaches to be the hardest player to defend, and plan for.

Fred is a pure point guard. He has amazing ball handles, and arguably better passing skills than his dribbling, which is difficult to say because he breaks ankles on the regular with his lateral cross overs. He is a threat every time he brings the ball up. He drives and creates opportunities for other players, and if the defense collapses to guard and shut down Fred’s drive, he effortlessly kicks it out to an open man for a 3, or to someone else cutting to the lane for an easy basket. He also has a very nice mid range jump shot that he hits, and a good outside shot from 3 when the opportunity arises.

He will be on campus and eligible to play in the 2012-13 season, which is the year that Malcolm Armstead will be eligible to play his only year on campus. Paired with Demetric Williams as another senior PG, Fred will have a ton of experience in front of him his first year to teach him the ropes and get him acclimated to D-1 basketball. Look for Fred to play a few minutes his Freshman year, and then take over the offense as the full-time point guard in 2013-14 season, and control our offense for 3 years as the starter. I can’t remember the last time we had a Point Guard that brought the ball up for us for 3 years.

Fred VanVleet is the future of Wichita State and I’m so proud to say that.