? ?
>> As a kid, he was very,
very shy.
>> He's quiet and humble,
he's not cocky at all.
>> A shy kid from
an early age, Bronson Koenig
has been quietly shooting
for stardom.
>> I've never seen a kid
work as hard as he did.
>> Foot pull from the side.
It's like this.
Make sure to get that--
I can definitely relate
to them.
I always came to places like
these as a kid and just wanted
to play as much basketball
as I could.
I lived in the gym, I guess,
I was here like
six hours a day.
Just shooting, ball handling
stuff like that.
>> He just wanted it,
and he put the time in.
>> There was a buzz about
Bronson, and his hard work
would get him noticed.
>> He was at a tournament
in La Crosse,
and some father came running
up to me.
He was all excited and talking
about Bronson making some shot.
I really didn't know a lot about
basketball, so I just said,
"Oh, yeah, okay!"
[laughter]
>> At this middle school
state championship
Bronson hit five shots
from the three point arc.
[crowd cheering]
It's that kind of play
that early on caught the
attention of
University of Wisconsin
basketball coach, Bo Ryan.
>> And I was told about him
when he was in, like,
fifth, sixth, seventh grade
by a lot of well-wishers that
said, he could be a player
for you, Coach!"
>> He had lots of pressure.
He had coaches calling him
all the time.
>> Ninth-grade I got my
first offer from UW-Green Bay.
And then after my freshman year,
my summer after I came to this
camp, Coach Ryan called me up
and offered me a scholarship.
>> It was very easy to
communicate with Bronson
about college, about the
experience, what it's gonna
be like.
>> Bronson rose to
the challenge,
leading La Crosse Aquinas
to two straight
state championships.
He was named Wisconsin's
high school basketball
Player of the Year.
>> It was exciting.
Especially when the big name
schools came after him.
>> Bo Ryan and Wisconsin would
have some competition
to land this top recruit.
>> Announcer: Bronson Koenig.
>> At 6'3" he was a premiere
point guard, ranked one of the
best in the country.
>> I had offers from Duke,
North Carolina, Kansas,
Virginia, Marquette,
other schools like that.
>> This would be Bronson's
big shot.
>> Just kind of follow
your heart, wherever.
They kinda let me make
my decisions.
If I had questions then
they'd help me along the way.
>> This could be a dream
come true.
>> I remember watching
Kirk Penny way back
when I was really little.
It's always been a dream of mine
to play for the Badgers.
I've always been a Bo Ryan fan,
but to finally play for him,
you know, it's awesome.
>> He's just a delight
to have around,
'cause he's very perceptive
and works extremely hard.
And we're certainly glad
we kept him away from the likes
of North Carolina and the rest
of those schools.
For us to be able to keep
Bronson in the state and
playing for the Badgers,
I know he's happy and
I know we're very happy.
>> It feels great whenever
I hear my name and
everybody starts clapping.
>> Announcer: In for
the Badgers, Bronson Koenig.
>> For Bronson his choice
to play Badger basketball
came down to this.
>> My dad is German,
Mom is Native American.
The main reason I chose
Wisconsin is so my family
and all the Native Americans,
all the Ho-Chunks from Wisconsin
could come watch me play.
>> We're one of the oldest
families in the tribe,
and one of the largest.
We still follow our
traditional ways.
There's a lot of
Native Americans that do not
make it off their reservations.
Just to see him succeed and
play on national television,
and take the steps that he needs
to go where he wants to go.
>> Ho-Chunk tribal president,
Jon Greendeer, had this to say,
"Bronson is lighting
our Nation up!
He really is an inspiration
for our youth, but whether
or not he knows, us old
washed up athletes
see everything we ever
aspired to be in his
profound abilities.
If there's anywhere
Indian Country needs a boost
or someone to look for
to embody the benefits
of good health and athleticism,
Bronson's the guy."
>> That means a lot,
coming from him especially.
I just try to be the best
role model I can be
to all Native Americans,
especially Native American kids.
>> That makes me feel good.
It makes me feel good.
>> Bronson is an internet hit
among Native Americans
across the country.
>> They contact me over,
you know, social media
and stuff like that.
So it's great having that
support system.
>> They're just as
excited as I am,
as one of their own.
And he's succeeding.
>> As you guys know,
I'm Bronson, Bronson Koenig.
>> Bronson is also eager
to give back
using basketball to inspire
at risk kids.
>> I always looked up to people
who played basketball
at higher levels than I did
so I just like to give them
any kind of words
of encouragement.
>> With stars in their eyes
these kids look up to Bronson,
and he gives them some sound
advice when they asked about
playing in the NBA.
[laughter]
>> Um, well,
I'm not really sure.
Hopefully, I get
my education first.
Yeah, hopefully I get my degree.
Hopefully, playing
professional basketball.
>> I know his dream is,
like probably everybody else,
the NBA.
And I hope he gets to
go where he wants to go.
>> It was so surreal.
I mean, he went from--
His senior year he won
the state championship,
and the next year
he's in the Final 4
as a Freshman at Wisconsin.
>> Sometimes I just have to
take a step back and kind of
realize what I'm going through,
and just appreciate everything
that has come my way so far.