Men's Basketball Adds Transfer Max Strus
4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul head coach Dave Leitao announced today that Max Strus has joined the basketball program as a transfer. Strus is a transfer from Lewis University and is coming off a season that saw him earn NABC Division II All-American honors after averaging 20.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Under NCAA transfer regulations, Strus will sit out the 2016-17 season and have two seasons of eligibility starting with the 2017-18 campaign.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Max Strus to our basketball family. In his time at Lewis, Max quickly established himself as one of the top Division II players in the country," said Leitao. "He's got great size and athleticism for a wing and can score the ball in a variety of ways. Studying him on film, we feel like he has a chance to become one of the elite shooters in the BIG EAST Conference. He's been well-coached and has grown up around the game so he possesses a very high basketball IQ and great work habits."
As a sophomore at Lewis, Strus (pronounced Stroos) earned NABC Division II All-American honors as well as Midwest Region All-District First Team. These awards are selected and voted on by member coaches of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Strus was also one of 25 finalists (one of only two sophomores) for the Bevo Francis Award that recognizes the nation's top player in small college basketball.
He led the Flyers in scoring (20.2 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg) and assists (3.5 apg) last season while guiding Lewis to its first Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title in 14 years. Strus knocked down 67 three-pointers while shooting .360 (67-186) from behind the arc. Overall, the 6-6 guard shot .455 (216-475) from the field and .823 (167-203) from the free throw line.
Over his two seasons at Lewis, Strus scored over 1,000 points including a school-record 666 points during his sophomore year. Strus broke the Lewis single-game scoring record and tied the GLVC scoring record with a 52-point outburst against Northwood on Nov. 24 that included a 12-for-14 performance from three-point range. That performance helped guide Strus to USBWA National Player of the Week honors.
As a freshman, Strus averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while being named the GLVC Freshman of the Year and second team All-GLVC.
"He will have to sit out this season, but we will use that time to pour into his development, preparing him to make a big impact for us in his remaining two years of eligibility," said Leitao. "We welcome Max and his family to the program and are very happy he chose to be a part of what we are building here at DePaul."
Strus, originally from Hickory Hills, Ill., starred at Stagg High School where he averaged 19 points and nine rebounds per game as a senior on his way to IBCA All-State Third Team, All-Southwest Suburban Conference, Regional Reporter Player of the Year and Southtown/Star All-Area accolades.
His mother, Debbie Brinkman Strus, is a member of the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame. She was inducted in 2000 played both basketball and volleyball for the Blue Demons from 1977-81.
