Career Summary (2017-20):
One of the most-physically imposing players to don a Shocker uniform was, in fact, a gentle giant. Midtgaard won awards for his sportsmanship and work ethic and his rapid improvement was one of the keys to WSU’s surge to the 2019 NIT semifinals in New York. The 7-foot Danish center – whose first name quite fittingly translates to “God’s Bear” – appeared in 67 games with four starts over three seasons with the Shockers and totaled 179 points, 172 rebounds and 41 blocks. He transferred to Grand Canyon in the spring of 2020 with one season of eligibility remaining.
Individual Honors:
2019 – Most Improved Player*
2019 -- Shocker Assist Award**
3x – WSU varsity letterman
2x -- AAC All-Academic Team (2019, 2020)
*=Men's basketball postseason banquet honor
**=WSU Gold Carpet Awards (all sports)
Team Success:
1x – NIT Semifinalist (2019)
1x – NCAA Tournament qualifier (2018)
2019-20 (Junior):
Appeared in 24 games with one start and averaged 1.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 7.9 minutes… After a breakout sophomore year, missed the entire summer of 2019 with a foot injury and never found his rhythm… Saw time in 12 conference games and totaled five points while battling for playing time behind all-conference center Jaime Echenique... Named to the NABC Honors Court (upperclassmen with a cumulative GPA over 3.20).
Notable Performances:
- Scored a season-high eight points in 13 minutes against Abilene Christian (Dec. 29).
- Helped key a big road win at nationally-ranked Oklahoma State (Dec. 8) with five points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 16 minutes.
- Six points, four rebounds and a block against Oral Roberts (Nov. 23).
2018-19 (Sophomore):
Appeared in 34 games at center with three starts... Averaged 3.9 points, 3.1 rebounds in 11.2 minutes-per-game... Ranked second on the team with 27 blocks. .632 field goal percentage was second-highest all-time by a Shocker (min. 50 FGM)... Helped WSU to a 14-4 finish to the year, averaging 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over that 18-game span while shooting over 65-percent from the field... Voted “Most Improved Player” by the WSU staff... Won the "Shocker Assist Award" at the school's annual Gold Carpet Awards, given to a student-athlete who demonstrate extraordinary sportsmanship, support, and loyalty to teammates... Also one of four male nominees for the "Workhorse Award," which recognizes exceptional effort and commitment to strength training and conditioning... Qualified for the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters.
Notable Performances:
- Logged almost 16 minutes-per-game during WSU’s run to the NIT semifinals, averaging 5.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks.
- Scored nine points and shared the team-lead with 10 rebounds in the NIT win at Furman (Mar. 20).
- Played a career-high 23 minutes in the AAC Tournament quarterfinal upset of Temple (Mar. 15), collecting six points, four boards and a pair of blocks.
- 10 points, seven rebounds in 13 minutes helped key an the AAC Tournament first round win over ECU (Mar. 14).
- Career-high 11-point game in the home finale against ECU (Mar. 5) in which he hit 5-of-6 attempts from the field, grabbed six rebounds and swatted three shots.
- Was an entirely different beast in the second half of the year, compared to the first. Over the last 15 regular season games, clocked an average of 14.4 minutes and put up 5.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks-per-game while shooting 68.8% from the field.
- Difference-maker in a Feb. 28 comeback against UConn finishing with a career-high four blocks (all in the second half) to go with four points, five rebounds in 21 minutes.
- Snagged a personal-best 11 rebounds in the win at ECU (Feb. 6).
- Scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting against SMU (Jan. 30) with five rebounds in 20 minutes.
- Scored six more against Cincinnati (Jan. 19) in 22 minutes.
- Coming-out party came Jan. 16 in the win over UCF (Jan. 16), in which he scored six first-half points while helping the Shocker successfully combat 7-6 Tacko Fall.
- Threw down his first collegiate dunk against Alabama (Nov. 18) at the Charleston Classic taking a fast-break feed from Ricky Torres in stride for a slam.
- Made his first career start in the season-opener against Louisiana Tech (Nov. 6) and finished with two points, three rebounds and a block.
2017-18 (Freshman):
Saw limited time behind a veteran core of four senior big men but learned from them every day in practice... Appeared in nine games as a reserve center and totaled 11 points, 17 rebounds and a pair of blocks in 49 minutes... Injured his ankle in practice in late January and missed close to two weeks... Appeared in just one game after Jan. 11, scoring three points in five minutes in the Feb. 10 win over UConn... Set season-highs for points (4) and minutes (10) in his collegiate debut against UMKC (Nov. 10) and also logged a steal and an assist... Had a personal-best five rebounds in nine minutes during the Nov. 28 home win over Savannah State...
High School:
Attended Espergarde Gymansium in Espergarde, Denmark… Spent the past three seasons competing against older professionals in the Danish League for the Horsholm 79’ers… Averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds in 19.0 minutes in 2016-17… Was the league’s 2017 “Young Player of the Year” (essentially a rookie of the year honor) and was also named to the All-Danish Team as one of the top-five Danish-born players in the eight team league… Coached by Rafa Monclova… Totals were vastly improved from 2015-16 when he averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 32 games… Put up 5.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2014-15… Toured the U.S. with Global Squad: Denmark in the summer of 2016 and was the team’s leading scorer (10.5) and rebounder (8.9) while shooting over 60 percent from the field… Signed with WSU in the Fall of 2016.
Personal:
Full name is Asbjørn Engelhardt Midtgaard… Pronounced Azz-bYORN MIT-Guard… Born Sept. 20, 1997 in Denmark… Son of Christian and Anne-Marie… Has two sisters… Took up competitive basketball at age 14 and is still relatively new to the game, but has made rapid progress with skill development… Favorite athlete is Memphis Grizzlies seven-footer, Marc Gasol… Signed with WSU in the Fall of 2016… Chose the Shockers over TCU and a handful of others.... Sport Management major.
