Daniel Freitag, a 4-star recruit from the Twin Cities, is still leading his new high school team in scoring. But his coach says the high level of talent around him has led to a different role for the future Badger, and possibly a state title.

By Peter Cameron, BADGER STRIPES

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When Wisconsin Badgers Head Coach Greg Gard secured a commitment from the 6’2″ Daniel Freitag, he also reeled in the highest-rated point guard in the history of the UW men’s basketball program.

A special athlete with a rare combo of speed and power, Freitag (pronounced “FREE-tag”) set the all-time scoring record for Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minnesota after only three years. To reach that summit, he had to surpass former NCAA national champion and long-time NBA player Cole Aldrich, who also played at Jefferson.

But after averaging nearly 29 points per game as a junior last year, Freitag’s scoring has dropped to about 17 points per game this year for Breck School in Golden Valley, where he transferred to finish his high school career.

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That scoring decrease, plus a knee injury this summer, is probably to blame for Freitag’s drop in some player rankings, after he was a 4-star recruit across the board last year. An ankle injury also kept him out earlier this season.

A photo of Daniel Freitag dunking for Breck High School. — Daniel Freitag dunks in a game for Breck. Photo by Jenni Lilledahl.

But Freitag “is healthy now and playing great for us,” said Breck School head coach Harry Sonie said in an email to Badger Stripes.

The team sits undefeated after ten games and is ranked #1 in their class of 2A.

His drop in scoring is intentional, Sonie said.

“Daniel is part of a much stronger team than the previous season,” he said. “It’s not that we don’t need him to score – I think he realizes the talent we have and that we can really utilize his passing abilities in addition to scoring.”

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BADGER STRIPES

After averaging about four assists per game in his junior season, Freitag is up to nearly seven per game this season.

The point guard still leads Breck in scoring and assists, Sonie noted, but the team has four other players averaging double digit points.

“In my opinion this is one of the most talented teams in our state across the board,” he said. “Daniel is an elite player and he elevates his teammates’ game as well.”

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Gard after Freitag signed with UW in November

“Daniel is an excellent addition to our program. We identified him early in the process, not only as a player but also as a person we want inside of our locker room. His infectious personality and bright smile will make him a fan favorite. Daniel has the kind of perspective and values that align perfectly with who we are as a program. Like several former Badger greats, Daniel has also had tremendous success on the football field as a dual-sport athlete. That experience on the gridiron has instilled a certain level of toughness and leadership that transcends sport. He is an electric athlete, with skills that fit in with who we are and where the game of basketball is going. His toughness and willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win makes him an extremely versatile guard who will impact the game in every way. He is a driven and dedicated young man and we are thrilled to add him to our Badger family.”