The operative word for Valparaiso junior Maddux Wagner is “growth.” The 6-foot-8 guard/forward has sprouted up 5 inches since the end of his freshman year. Meanwhile, Wagner began last season on the junior varsity team but became a full-time varsity player after scoring 16 points in a start agai nst Lake Central on Jan. 24. Valparaiso coach Ben Lieske has seen even more from Wagner. “Just stay ready, stay locked in, cheer on your teammates — that’s a big step in the right direction for him,” Lieske said. “That humility is one of the reasons why he’s grown so much. He’s such a talented basketball player, and he’s willing to step up in any way. One of the things I love about him is just what a humble person he is. “But he’s also hardworking. He gets in early to get shots up, or he stays late. He’s not afraid to have a game where he’s not getting a lot of points but he’s just cheering his teammates on. That’s pretty admirable too.” Of course, that doesn’t mean Wagner can’t put up numbers. He averaged 7.5 points and 7.1 rebounds last season, with most of that production coming in the final month-plus. “We couldn’t keep him off the floor because he was too valuable,” Lieske said. “It took me a while to realize it, but I finally figured it out. He was one of the keys to our success throughout the end of that season.” That will be even more true this season. He posted 18 points and six rebounds during the Vikings’ season-opening overtime win at West Side on Nov. 26. “He’s only continued to grow with that success,” Lieske said. “He had a great summer with us and in his AAU season. He’s getting the attention of college coaches. He’s had them in here all fall looking at him, at the NAIA and DI level. “He has a great future ahead of him because he’s humble, he’s a hard worker and he’s a team-first player — and he can shoot from the outside.” Wagner looks back at last season as a turning point. “All season, I just slowly started to get better as the season went on,” Wagner said. “A couple of games in, I started coming in in the morning, shooting around. I saw a lot of improvement from that with my shot. I started locking in in practice and just trying to be the best I could.” Wagner was growing taller too. “That’s when I really started realizing basketball could be my thing,” he said. “Freshman year, I was kind of baseball first. But at the end of the summer, I was like, ‘Dang, I got tall.’ Once I got tall, I was like, ‘Basketball might be my thing.’ I’ve gone away from baseball, and that summer I started focusing on basketball. Valparaiso’s Maddux Wagner, right, tries to slow down Merrillville’s Kelvion Brown during a Class 4A sectional opener in Valparaiso on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune) “The fast growth, I was uncoordinated. I was still getting used to my body. I’m still getting used to it now. I have some moments, but I’ve gotten a lot better now. I’m hoping I can grow a little bit more.” Wagner’s teammates have recognized his growth. They voted him a team captain along with senior guard Michael Reeves and senior guard/forward Jonny Klumpe. “That’s not common as a junior,” Lieske said. “That’s a sign of his leadership.” It’s a role Wagner has embraced, especially with the composition of Valparaiso’s roster. Six players made their varsity debut against West Side. “I definitely had to take more of a leadership role this season,” Wagner said. “Last season, I didn’t get called up until later in the season, and I was the youngest guy on the team. So even though I was a starter, I wasn’t much of a leader vocal-wise and was just on the court. “This year, I’ve definitely become more of a vocal leader, and on the court, people definitely trust me more on what to do. I’m just going to continue to get better at that. It comes naturally. If I see someone struggling, I just have the natural thought to help. Let me give them tips or help where to rotate or how to run the play.” Wagner has impressed Reeves. “Maddux is a great teammate and someone that you always want on your team,” he said. “He plays hard all the time, and he has a bright future ahead of him.” Wagner, whose older sisters Serena and Kennedy are former Valparaiso volleyball stars and have played at the Division I level, is focused on the present. “I try to be the best I can and be the best for the team,” he said. “That’s my main focus. As long as the team’s winning and I’m contributing in some way, I’ve succeeded in doing my role.” ...read more read less