When Marquette tips off their 2016-2017 season this fall, they will be refreshed and reloaded. After the departure of standout freshman, Henry Ellenson, this year’s team will have a major void to fill. Standing at 6’6”, 190 lbs, Sam Hauser may be that player. Last season, Ellenson polarized defenders with his poise in the paint. Next season, Hauser is expected to play shooting guard for the Golden Eagles and should make a major impact from day one. “I can do a lot of things on the floor,” stated Hauser. “I have a high IQ, but all of it starts with my shooting. My shooting opens up a lot for me.”

 

When Sam Hauser picked up a basketball at the age of two, little did he know that he would be playing at Marquette 16 years later. Soon after the hiring of Coach Steve Wojciechowski, Hauser immediately became a priority for the Golden Eagles. “I was Coach Wojo’s first offer after he got hired to be the head coach at Marquette. I got offered within the first week that he got the job. So, I knew that he wanted me to go to Marquette.” explained Hauser.

There is no denying that Marquette was one of the schools that recruited Hauser the hardest, however, with offers from schools such as Virginia, Creighton, and Northern Iowa, there was plenty of intrigue to leave home. Attending Stevens Point Area Senior High School(Stevens Point, WI), Hauser is only a couple hours away from Marquette and won’t stray too far from his family, who has had a major impact on his basketball career. “They’ve always been really good supporters, friends, and family.” says the 6’6”, senior forward.

 

Not only has Hauser’s family impacted him, but he has also had a major impact on them. His younger brother, Joey, is a top-25 player in the Class of 2018 and already holds an offer from Marquette. It is clear that Sam Hauser has played a huge role in the development of his younger brother. Now, with his inaugural college season upcoming, Hauser will have the chance to make his mark among college basketball’s best. Joined by four-star recruits Markus Howard and Brendan Bailey, Hauser is set to put Marquette in a position to improve upon their solid, 20-13 record last season. “I want to make the NCAA tournament.” Hauser continued. “Obviously, everyone wants to win a national championship, so that’s also a goal.”

 

Hauser may have the national championship in his sights, but he has a lot of work to do if he plans to get there. He mentioned his strength and quickness as areas he is looking to improve at, and if his dead-on shooting translates to the next level, then the Big East should be in for a show. “Some people tell me that I play like Sam Dekker, but I like to watch players like Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, and Chandler Parsons and try to model my game after them.” said the 6’6”, shooting guard.

While he may not be the most athletic guy on the court, Hauser makes up for it with his great effort and intensity. Often overlooked, Hauser’s all around game has been the driving point for his ESPN ranking of #86 in the 2016 class. “I’m not always going to be the most athletic guy on the floor,” he says. “I need to prove myself to the players around me because I’m often labeled as ‘just a shooter’. I try to open up my game more.”

 

With a great shooting stroke and a lot of motivation to improve, Sam Hauser is ready to take the Big East Conference by storm. Next year, college basketball fans should have their eyes set on this elite small forward from Stevens Point, Wisconsin and there is no doubt that he will do great things. As he says best, “I know that there’s always someone out there trying to work harder than me. That pushes me to work harder every day.”