Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton College head men's basketball coach Mike Schauer has announced his team's recruiting class for the 2022-23 season. The seven students, hailing from seven different states, have submitted a deposit to attend Wheaton College in the fall with plans of playing for the Thunder men's basketball team. The seven players include three transfers, with four freshmen. Schauer says of the group, "This is a very talented group of new players that fits Wheaton College well. Perhaps as talented as I have had in one recruiting class. And we may not be done yet."

EDITOR'S NOTE: If additional newcomers for the program submit a deposit to attend Wheaton in the coming months they will be added to this story. 
 

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The three transfers with plans to join the Thunder in 2022-23 are:

TJ Askew (San Diego, Calif./Santa Fe Christian H.S./Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) - TJ will be a graduate student at Wheaton, pursuing a Master's Degree in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership. At Santa Fe Christian, he was a member of two CIF Division I Championship squads, earning All-Conference accolades. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Claremont McKenna College in Environment Economics and Policy. A two-time team captain, TJ earned All-SCIAC Academic Honors, and in 2021-22 was a Second Team All-SCIAC selection. He started 23 games in the 2021-22 season, averaging 15 points, with five rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game. He was a two-time recipient of the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week award and also picked up one honor as the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Connor Braun (Tempe, Arizona/Valley Christian H.S./Northeastern University) - Connor graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management and plans to enroll in Wheaton's graduate school for a Master's Degree in Theology. He was a four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time team captain at Valley Christian High School. As a senior, he helped lead the team to a State Championship as he earned First Team All-Region with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game. At Northeastern in 2021-22 he played in 21 games for the Huskies. He was a six-time member of the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Micah Schnyders (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville Christian H.S./Eastern Illinois) – As a senior at Yorkville Christian in 2019-20, Schnyders earned First Team All-State recognition from the IBCA, Chicago Sun-Times, Associated Press, News Gazette and was honored as the Kendall County Player of the Year. He averaged 25.5 points, 8.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game that season, helping guide the team to a Regional Championship. Schnyders was named to both the IBCA and Illinois/Missouri All-Star games. He played in 33 games in two seasons at Eastern Illinois and in 2021-22, he played in 27 contests. He scored a career-high 12 points in a matchup against Tennessee State, and tallied a career-best 38 minutes versus Austin Peay with eight points and five rebounds.

The four freshmen with plans to join the Thunder in 2022-23 are:

Michael Dienes (Scottsdale, Arizona/Rancho Solano Prep) - Michael was named the Class 2A Valley Region Player of the Year in 2021-22 and was a two-time First Team All-State selection for Rancho Solano Prep. He helped lead the team to four state tournament appearances, including three championship games, and the 2020 State Championship. He is the school's all-time three-point leader, is second all-time in school history with 1,156 points, is third in rebounds, and fourth in blocked shots. As a senior, he averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. 

Kyle Neibch (Tega City, S.C./Fort Mill H.S.) – A four-year varsity starter at Fort Mill High School, Kyle started for the team for three seasons, and scored 1,085 career points. In 2021-22 he was named the Region 3-5A Player of the Year, helping the team to a Regional Championship and a spot in the Elite 8 of the State Tournament. A two-time team MVP, Kyle earned First Team All-State honors as a senior as he averaged 16 points, and four rebounds per game. He also earned selection to the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game at the conclusion of his senior season.

Cole Reid (Woodway, Texas/Waco Midway High School) – Cole was named to the Dave Campbell's All-State Team as a prep and also earned recognition as District 17 Co-MVP. A four-year varsity starter and Team Offensive MVP, he also was named to the UIL All-Region First Team by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He also picked up recognition as the Super Centex Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and was a Super Centex First Team selection multiple times. 

Noah Reimer (Owasso, Okla./Lincoln Christian High School) – Noah earned selection as a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Team and Class 3A All-Star Team. He was a finalist for the VYPE Tulsa Area Mr. Basketball award, averaging 17 points and nine rebounds in his senior season. A two-time Pinnacle Conference First Team selection, he was a member of National Honor Society and the Academic Honor Roll at Lincoln Christian High School.