Adam Wetzel
School and Year (1998-99) Keokuk HS, IA - Senior
Height and Weight 6'9 250lbs
Position Center/Big Forward
98-99 Ratings
Academically Eligible Yes
Status Signed Purdue
Player Summary ·
Player News ·
Game Stats ·
Season Stats ·
Honors
Adam Wetzel is a 6'9 1/2 center from Keokuk High in Iowa.
Tipping the scales at 250-pounds, Wetzel fit Purdue's need for a wide
body. Coaches say Wetzel is agile around the basket and runs the floor well
for a 250-pound player. He has a wide wingspan which helps his post defense,
but he does need more defensive training to be successful in the Big Ten.
His defense has improved at the hands of Keokuk head coach Dave Hall, who
has coached at Ball State and Illinois State. Until his senior season, Wetzel
had only player zome defense for Class 2A Red Oaks. Upon his transfer to 3A
Keokuk, Wetzel had to learn man-to-man, Hall's dominant defensive scheme.
Wetzel is expected to gain even more weight on Purdue's strength and
conditioning program when he arrives in West Lafayette this summer. His coach
says it is not out of the question for Wetzel to be able to pack on 20-30
more pounds of muscle. He is a mobile wide-bosy with long arms, favorably
compared to former Boiler centers Jim Rowinski, Steven Scheffler and Brad
Miller.
Wetzel averaged 13.4 points and 7 boards for 25-2 Keokuk High, who
made their second-consecutive trip to the Iowa state tournament finals.
Keokuk finished #2 in the Associated Press' final 98-99 poll. Keokuk also
won their conference with a perfect 18-0 record. Their only loss in 98-99
was to Notre Dame in Quincy Illinois.
Averaging 17.1 points and 7.5 boards, Red Oaks High finished a
disappointing 9-10 on the season. Adam is the school leader in blocks with
266 over his career.
Wetzel announced he had signed with Purdue on April 16, 1999.
5-15-99...For a peek into the high school game of Adam Wetzel, check
out the following links to stories from the Iowa Media. There is a link to a
story where Wetzel scored 33 points in a senior all-star game in March and
was named the MVP. The final link also tells of how Purdue became interested
in Wetzel.
Bloodhounds seek to defend league titles
No. 1 Chiefs keep rolling
Southeast Conference thriller
No. 2 Keokuk rolls past Grayhounds
Keokuk opens tourney by beating Fort Madison
Keokuk downs Panthers
No. 2 Keokuk shoots for return trip to state
No. 2 Keokuk relies on balance
Keokuk set for state
Keokuk hangs on for victory
Chiefs' Wetzel reaches potential
Keokuk to face Knights
Keokuk finish No. 2 in state tournament
Wetzel scores 33 in All-Star competition
Wetzel headed to Purdue
4-21-99...Here's an article from the Hawkeye in Iowa, featuring some
quotes from Adam's coach (caution...website has been very slow in loading).
4-17-99...Purdue has signed Adam Wetzel to an athletic scholarship.
4-16-99...Mark Ambrogi of the Indy Star has a new article
up with quotes from Keady on Wetzel, which must mean Wetzel has already
signed his letter of intent. The article talks about Wetzel's desire to look
at other options, a decision that led him to Purdue.
WLFI reported Thursday that Adam Wetzel will announce on Friday.
Wetzel will meet with his coach at Keokuk High to announce his decision.
Also on the news this evening was footage of Wetzel. Although game
highlights are deceiving, it does appear Wetzel is quick around the basket
and fairly athletic.
4-15-99...6'9 center Adam Wetzel has scheduled a news conference for
this afternoon, when he is expected to announce he has signed with Purdue.
4-13-99...Early this morning rumors started to come in about a 6'9 Iowa
senior who would officially visit Purdue. As the day went along, the kid was
identified as 6'9 250-pound Keokuk High center Adam Wetzel. Wetzel had
already given Dayton a verbal committment, but decided to check out Purdue
before he makes anything official. Early this morning, the Dayton Daily
News broke the story and fans began hearing the news on Dayton radio
staions. Purdue made contact late last week and set up the official visit
which will be today and Wednesday. This past Monday, Wetzel informed Dayton
coach Oliver Purnell he was going to take a look at Purdue. Wetzel has been
looked at by many Big 12 and Big 10 schools over his career, but only received
solid early offers from Dayton, Northeastern and Northern Iowa. As it is in
the late signing period, some big name schools came knocking when their
recruiting options began to narrow, one reason why Wetzel did not immediately
sign a national letter of intent for Dayton last week when the signing period
began.
It is not surprising that Purdue would start digging for a wide-body
after juco center Julius Hicks verballed to Oregon and 6'11 Andy Slocum had
narrowed his choices to eliminate Purdue. Slocum verballed to Texas A&M
today.
Wetzel averaged 13.4 points, 7 boards and 3.5 blocked shots for the
25-2 Keokuk Chiefs. Keokuk made their second straight trip to the state
championship this year, finishing second in the tournament and second in the
state Associated Press poll. Keokuk head coach Dave Hall was an assistant
at Ball State under Majerus and also coached at Illinois State. An AAU coach
I know from Iowa had this to say this evening about Wetzel..."He's the kind
of player you need to make a serious championship run. He does all the dirty
work. I was most impressed this year with his athletic ability. You don't
think a 250 pound kid can get up and down the court like he can. His wingspan
helps him defend well and he's a solid rebounder. A team like you have with
a good combination of forwards plays to his strengths. He has the potential
to really develop, but is already a solid role player. Coachable from what
I've heard." It is possible Wetzel could end up honoring his Dayton verbal,
which happened just a week ago, but the mutual interest between Wetzel and
Purdue is encouraging news.
DATE MIN FG FGA FT FTA 3P 3PA RB A B S PTS
--------------------------------------------------
03-28-99 16 22 1 2 0 1 12 33 Tie 106- White Team AS 106
03-12-99 2 4 4 6 7 3 8 Lost 61- Assumption 70
03-19-99 6 8 1 1 0 0 3 13 Won 75- Algona 41
03-18-99 4 5 0 0 8 Won 55 W Delaware 52
03-05-99 5 7 3 4 5 13 Won 59- Mount Pleasant 42
03-02-99 4 4 2 2 5 10 Won 57- Fort Madison 35
02-26-99 5 2 4 12 Won 76- Muscatine 62
02-17-99 4 0 0 8 Won 70- Davis County 53
02-13-99 6 1 1 13 Won 80- Washington 55
02-03-99 5 6 3 4 13 Won 69- Burlington 53
01-31-99 11 2 2 24 Won 84- Centerville 35
01-30-99 5 7 6 9 17 Won 74- Fort Madison 67
01-24-99 5 2 4 12 Won 79- Oskaloosa 59
01-19-99 8 4 7 20 Won 101- Carthage 53
01-16-99 5 2 3 12 Won 78- Fairfield 61
12-19-98 9 10 0 0 9 18 Won 66- Mount Pleasant 33
12-05-98 6 4 5 16 Won 76- Pleasant Valley 67
12-02-98 3 0 0 6 Won 73- Hamilton 40
Season thru PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG APG SPG BPG RECORD RANK
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98-99 season 13.4 .720 .722 7.0 3.5 25-2 #2
97-98 season 17.1 7.5 3.4 9-10
98-99 season Southeast Conference First Team
3A All-State Honorable Mention (Iowa Newspaper Assoc)
Iowa Top40 All-Star game
All-Area First Team (The Hawk Eye)
Blue-White All-Star Game MVP
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