Midtgaard approved for instant big role

Asbjørn Midtgaard has been playing college basketball since 2017 but he could not wait to show more of his capabilities once he transferred to Grand Canyon in April.

Now, the senior center and GCU are happy that he does not have to wait to do so.

The NCAA granted Midtgaard's waiver for immediate eligibility this season, when the Denmark native figures to make an impact as large as his 7-foot, 270-pound frame.

"It means everything to me," said Midtgaard, who transferred from Wichita State. "Coming to GCU and being able to play right away is a blessing. I'm just so glad to be here and I'm excited.

Asbjorn Midtgaard

"I've been practicing and working as hard as anyone on the team. Having the knowledge that I'm going to play stokes the fire and the motivation even more."

Midtgaard's presence, physical and vocal, in summer workouts showed how much he could help fortify the Lopes' front line, allowing senior Alessandro Lever and sophomore Gabe McGlothan to play power forward.

"We're thrilled that Asbjørn will be able to play right away," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He brings a level of maturity to our team, being a senior in college and all of his experience playing overseas. He comes in very well-prepared and very well-coached. He's been a really big addition in practice, not just with his presence and how big he is around the rim, but also his communication."

Midtgaard only began playing basketball at age 14 in Denmark but progressed rapidly to be the 2017 Young Player of the Year as an amateur against veterans in the Danish League.

At Wichita State, he won Most Improved Player as a sophomore, when he averaged 5.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots during the Shockers' NIT run to the semifinals.

He has been empowered to play more and do more with GCU, where his muscular frame is imposing for screens, box-outs, rim protection and post-up offense and defense while his passing ability is unveiled more.

"I've been working hard, defining and refining my skills," Midtgaard said. "Maybe I'll show some new tricks up the sleeve."

For a Lopes team that ranked last in the nation for blocked shots last season, Midtgaard bolsters the last line of defense with his 7-4 wingspan.

"It changes our team dramatically to have him," Drew said. "It gives us a lot more depth in the frontcourt. He's 270 pounds so he's a big presence on defense, especially when guards try to drive and get to the rim. Last year, we really struggled with protecting the rim. Hopefully, he'll be able to change that instantly."

Midtgaard complements Lever's game at both ends, relieving him from difficult post defense and rebounding matchups and setting up the perimeter offensive strengths that put the 6-10 Italian on All-WAC first team.

"I can't wait to play with a 6-10 guy at the same time on the court," Midtgaard said. "It's going to be incredible, just high-low with me passing to him and him passing to me. He's an incredible shooter so he's going to space the floor very well and I can work inside. I try to challenge him and he, for sure, challenges me. That's a given. He's very, very skilled and I can learn a lot from that. I just try to learn and try to teach."

Midtgaard has been a vocal leader in practices, encouraging, guiding and correcting his teammates. He is coming from a Wichita State program that went 70-31 during his three seasons there.

"The players respect him and what he says," Drew said. "When he communicates, it is received very well by his teammates."

Even amid the difficulty of the pandemic, Midtgaard is relishing the blessings of his summer. He has a new team with players who excite him to play and coaches who challenge him to expand his game and a fiancée, former Wichita State volleyball player Madison Freund, to share the joy of news like the NCAA waiver.

"I feel a sense of urgency that I haven't had in my freshman, sophomore and junior years because I always had next year," Midtgaard said. "There's no more next year. This is it. I've got to give it all."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Alessandro Lever

Gabe McGlothan

Asbjørn Midtgaard

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