Gus Yalden - F (2023)

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N/A

2020-21: Sophomore (IMG)
2019-20: 1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg | Freshman (Mater Dei)

For anyone familiar with Yalden as a prospect, the first question on their mind is what’s up with all the moving, Gus Bus? Due to his parents’ line of work, Yalden was born in College Park, Maryland, but grew up in Nebraska and Wisconsin, where he came up in the Appleton North feeder program. He was planning to attend Appleton Xavier. But then his mother took a new job in Colorado and he wound up playing his freshman year in California for Santa Ana Mater Dei. While he posted meager stats as a frosh at the nationally-ranked powerhouse, that didn’t slow his recruitment. Yalden planned to attend The Asheville School, an elite boarding school in North Carolina, as a sophomore, but plans changed to IMG Academy.

Boasting high major scholarship offers from Florida State, Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, and Utah, Yalden became Wisconsin’s first offer in the 2023 class. Yalden was impressive with well-known Wisconsin Playground Club in recent travel events, but will plan to run with his old team, Team Griffin, for EYBL play when possible. His most recent offers are from Auburn and West Virginia, in addition to picking up attention from Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, and Virginia Tech.

Yalden’s skill level is off the charts for a big man of his age. His sweet shooting touch and passing vision are devastating. Areas of improvement would be his defense and decision making. And, of course, his body — he’s drawing plenty of “pre-pandemic Nikoa Jokic” comparisons already. As he matures he will get no doubt get more sculpted, which should lead to a more impressive vertical. And at that point, the sky may be the limit.

2022
7/20: Tuesday at the Peach Jam: Duke, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin pledges shine (247 Sports)

2021
7/28: Recruiting Roundup: Gus Yalden (ProspectiveInsight.com)
7/3: Top-20 incoming junior Gus Yalden talks his recruitment (Stockrisers)
6/12: Iowa Basketball Impresses Gus Yalden During Visit (Hawkeye Nation)
3/11: Gus Yalden talks recruiting, looks ahead to spring (Badgers 247)

2020
8/26: Class of 2023 big Gus Yalden talks recent Howard, Stanford offers (Zags Blog)
7/11: Top 2023 prospect receives an offer from UW (B5Q)
7/8: A Prospect to Know – 2023 F Gus Yalden (WisSportsHeroics.com)
5/20: Meet 6’9 Gus Yalden, who is drawing Nikola Jokić comparisons as a freshman (HS Midwest)

2019
10/24: Prospect Primer: Gus Yalden (BadgerNotes.com)
10/21: Pangos All Midwest Frosh/Soph Top 10 Class of 2023 (Big Tim’s High School Basketball Revue)

Interview: Gus Yalden Q&A (3/16/21)
Interview: Gus Yalden Explains Baby Jokic (7/11/21)
Highlights: Prep Hoops Hard Work Kickoff: Gus Yalden (7/6/20)
Highlights: GUS BUS!! Top Freshman in Wisconsin Gus Yalden Highlights From The Courtside Fall Camp (10/6/19)

2020-21 Schedule |

Twitter: @gusbus2023