Decision to enroll early at Marquette a tough call for Joey Hauser

STEVENS POINT - Joey Hauser sat on a table at the side of the court in the SPASH Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

As his teammates ran through a drill, all the 6-foot-8 all-state forward could do was run the clock timing out each session. He longed to be out on the practice court with his guys.

RELATED: Marquette recruit Joey Hauser to miss rest of season at SPASH

RELATED: SPASH basketball standout Joey Hauser commits to Marquette

By his side was a scooter, which is required for him to get around after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery on Dec. 11. A constant reminder of the heartbreak and frustration of a senior season lost.

Earlier in the day came news Hauser would enroll at Marquette University for the spring semester and redshirt. He will have four years of eligibilty left starting with the 2018-19 academic year.

"I'm really going to miss the guys," said Hauser, who arrived on the Marquette campus Jan. 20. "It was a very difficult decision at first. I didn't want to leave my teammates and friends and coaches.

"I knew the team would be really understanding and supportive, and they have been."

He wrestled with the decision for weeks. Hauser was torn between loyalty to his SPASH teammates and coaches and to his best interest.

The idea of being an early enrollee was originally brought up by Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski, who was at the hospital when Hauser had surgery.

The diagnosis from Dr. Robert Anderson, who performed the surgery to repair cartilage and shave bone spurs, was his high school season was officially over.

"Being hurt has been tough on me. Getting up every morning with a cast on and not being able to play has been really hard," said Hauser, a top 50 recruit in the Class of 2018 according to various recruiting services.

With an open scholarship, Wojciechowski suggested the early enrollment option would give him a chance to get acclimated to the program sooner than expected.

More importantly, it would offer Hauser a chance to work with the Golden Eagles' training staff round the clock during his rehab.He will have his cast removed and be fitted with a walking boot next week.

Hauser noted if his recovery stays on schedule, he'll be back on the court by April "doing little things." He should be back to full basketball activities by June.

"When Coach Wojo first brought the idea up, my first thought was I don't want to do that," Hauser said. "But I had to make the right decision for me. I really want to be 100 percent healthy and ready to go next year."

The decision was left in the hands of Joey, and his parents David and Stephanie Hauser.

A lot of loose ends needed to be tied up before early enrollment could even be considered.

"(Coach Wojo) asked us to think about it. He knew we needed some time to think through everything," Stephanie Hauser said.

Before Joey could consider enrolling early at Marquette he needed the required number of credits to graduate from SPASH.

He said he was only a credit or a credit and a half short. With help from SPASH Principal Jon Vollendorf, several online classes were lined up.

Marquette compliance officers then checked with the NCAA Clearinghouse and received word that Hauser met eligibility requirements after completing his online work.

The youngest of three children, including older brother Sam, who is averaging 15.1 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds as a sophomore with the Golden Eagles, Joey would be leaving the nest earlier than expected.

When the pros and cons were weighed, the decision was a no-brainer.

"We just wanted to keep Joey's best interest at the forefront of any decision," his mom said. "We told him if he felt he was emotionally ready (for college), then he needed to do this. 

"It's been an emotional roller coaster the past two months from the day we got the results from the MRI and heard he needed surgery."

He also has the full support of his teammates and coaches.

"Your high school career comes to an end for everybody, but his came to an end much too soon," SPASH coach Scott Anderson said. "He's excited and we're excited for him. Me as a coach, and everyone in our program, want what is in his best interest."

Hauser helped lead SPASH to three straight Division 1 state championships, including as a freshman and sophomore playing with his older brother.

He averaged 23.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game as a junior en route to the Panthers' third state title in a row.Joey was a unanimous selection to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association all-state team in 2016-17.

Joey and Sam won't be roommates once the younger Hauser arrives on campus. Instead, Joey will be rooming with Golden Eagles sophomore center Harry Froling.

The Australia native can relate to what Hauser will be going through. Froling sat out a year after transferring from Southern Methodist University and only became eligible at semester break.

As a redshirt, Joey will be able to dress for games and travel with the team for road games.

He's now ready for the next chapter in his basketball career to begin.

"It's going to give me something to be excited about and take my mind off not being able to play my senior year," Hauser said. "I'm looking forward to getting started on being  a college athlete and a college student."