Huskies sign recruits Matthew Schmainda and Alex Calcaterra

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech men's basketball has announced the commitments of guards Matthew Schmainda (Brookfield, Wis.) and Alex Calcaterra (Boyne City, Mich.) for the 2023-24 season.

Schmainda was a shooting guard at Brookfield East High School and is coming off a stellar senior season, averaging 19 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. He also helped the Spartans to a pair of Regional Championships.

"Matt will work as hard and compete as hard as anyone out there," commented head coach Josh Buettner. "He is a great fit for Michigan Tech on and off the court and will make this program better."

Schmainda (6-feet-2-inches) intends to major in Engineering at Michigan Tech. As a junior, he posted 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. A year prior, he put up 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals.

The Spartans are a member of the Greater Metro Conference and Schmainda was named second team All-Conference as a junior and honorable mention as a senior, even after an injury set him back.

Schmainda's former teammate Dan Gherezgher also attended Brookfield East and was named second team All-GLIAC as a true freshman for the Huskies. MTU already features nine student-athletes from the state of Wisconsin.

Alex Calcaterra (6-feet-3-inches) joins his brother Pete on the team after three years of varsity basketball at Boyne City High School. Alex Calcaterra is a two-time all-state athlete and has been named all-conference in each of the past three seasons.

He averaged 19 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a senior, along with 16 points and 4.0 rebounds as a junior. Calcaterra finished his career with 950 career points, adding 9.0 points per game as a sophomore, leading the Ramblers to two district championships (2021, 2023) and one conference championship (2023).

"Alex is a phenomenal athlete whose best basketball is ahead of him," Buettner said. "The sky is the limit and we're excited to get to work with him."

Calcaterra is a good student and a member of National Honor Society. He intends to study Engineering at Michigan Tech. Also an all-state wide receiver in high school, Calcaterra received an offer to play football at MTU but opted to commit for basketball.

Other signed recruits include Ethan Heck (shooting guard - De Pere, Wisconsin), Luke Hazelton (forward - Maple City, Michigan), and Gabe Smith (forward - St. Germain, Wisconsin).