Graduate student guard Danny Frauenheim has been an amazing addition to Case Western Reserve University’s men’s basketball team this season. Frauenheim has been averaging 12.9 points per game in conference play on 42.4% overall shooting. He recorded two double-doubles in conference play and recently surpassed 1,000 career points and 500 assists after playing against New York University on Sunday, Feb. 5. 

Frauenheim grew up in Brielle, New Jersey and completed his undergraduate studies at Susquehanna University, where he majored in finance. He came to CWRU for his masters in finance as well. 

Although Frauenheim finally chose basketball, he played as many sports as he could growing up.

“I played football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball and lacrosse in the spring,” said Frauenheim about his childhood. “Then in high school, I only ended up playing basketball and golf during my four years.” 

He started playing basketball from a very young age, partly because his father was a basketball coach. Frauenheim grew up going to the games his dad coached and usually sat with him at practice. Naturally, Frauenheim wanted to play. He started in first grade and hasn’t stopped since.

Choosing to become an undergraduate student athlete is no small decision, but Frauenheim loved basketball and decided to take on the challenge. At Susquehanna, he lost his third-year season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving him an extra year of eligibility. “Luckily I was able to find a place like CWRU that has given me the opportunity to use that year and continue playing the game I love,” said Frauenheim. CWRU offered him a strong academic program in the Weatherhead School of Management and the opportunity to play elite NCAA DIII basketball. 

CWRU’s basketball team this season has continued to surprise everyone with record-shattering performances time and time again. Frauenheim tells us that his favorite part of the game “would have to be winning. There’s no greater feeling in the world than winning.” Spartan basketball fans would have to agree. Seeing this team be in an eight-game winning streak and clinch the top seed  in the University Athletics Association for the first time in CWRU’s history has been an incredible ride that fans happily shared with them. 

One of the great things about Frauenheim is his ability to work in a team. In an earlier post-game interview, third-year forward Ian Elam described how special Frauenheim’s play-making abilities are. Elam, who made 21 points that game, attributed part of his success to Frauenheim, saying, “Danny created so many great looks for me and the ball just kept going in.”  Frauenheim has 156 assists this season and 82 during conference play, leading the team with the most assists this season.

As the team moves forward to the NCAA DIII championship, Frauenheim is looking forward to the next few weeks for the team. 

“We have had great success this season, winning the first UAA championship in school history and we’re looking forward to continuing the success in the tournament.”