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Q&A: Carson Shanks Excited to Join Gophers, Eager to Work Hard & Continue Development
Q&A: Carson Shanks Excited to Join Gophers, Eager to Work Hard and Continue Development
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/326556?referrer_id=388419
Carson Shanks, a 7-foot center from Prior Lake (Minn.) High, decided to leave the Utah State program at the semester break and is expected to enroll at Minnesota.
Shanks averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and four rebounds per game last season as the Lakers finished 19-8. They were upset by Lakeville South 75-63 in the first round of the playoffs.
Shanks come from a basketball family. His father, Michael, played at Northern State and his uncle (Brian Shanks), who is 7-3, played at South Dakota State.
Shanks talked to Gopher Hole Thursday morning at Lifetime Fitness, while was working out with former Gopher Mitch Ohnstad, about his decision to leave Utah State and future plans.
Gopher Hole: So when are you enrolling at Minnesota?
Carson Shanks: Well, first, I have to get admitted first. The cat is coming out of the bag on that. The admissions process is going on right now. Just waiting to hear more. Once I know more, I can officially announce everything.
Gopher Hole: When does school start?
Carson Shanks: I think it is January 27th.
Gopher Hole: So, in a perfect world, you are hoping to have everything done by then, right?
Carson Shanks: They have told us that sometime this week, I should know for certain and then from there, we will move on from there.
Gopher Hole: What lead you to decide to go to Minnesota?
Carson Shanks: I went to Utah State and on the drive home, I got a few calls from a few different schools and Ben Johnson called me, who had recruited me at UNI and Nebraska, so I had a good relationship with him. He called me and said that "We want you, We want you to come visit. Pitino wants to work you out" and I went from there.
Gopher Hole: Was it a tough decision to leave Utah State? I know that you had committed to them as a junior.
Carson Shanks: I made some really good relationships there. I couldn't say a bad thing about that school. It wasn't necessarily the right fit for me. Distance-wise from home, I didn't like being that far away. It was not an easy decision.
Gopher Hole: Local fans have not seen you since your high schools days. How has your game changed?
Carson Shanks: From high school compared to now, I was not in great shape. I have gotten into a lot better shape. Really changed the way that I approach the game. I was pretty offensive-minded in high school and now have gotten to a point where I realize that if I want to be a successful college player, that I have to be a complete player who can rebound, defend and run the floor.
Gopher Hole: It looks like your body has changed. Have you put on some weight?
Carson Shanks: Down at Utah State, they put some weight on me and I am still trying to continue that. I went into Utah State, about 248 and really out of shape. Now, I am down to about 225 and I have put some muscle on.
Gopher Hole: Can you tell that change has already made an impact on your basketball?
Carson Shanks: Without a doubt. Just working out right now, it is light years easier than what it used to be. I used to be on my hands and knees and now I know how to push myself through some things.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Carson Shanks: Offensively, I have been really working on my jump hook. I used to be able to just turn and shoot over kids, which I couldn't at Utah State. Now I have learned to shoot that jump hook better. Defensively and overall, I get up the court a lot better. I can run with guards. I can run for longer. I have really learned to fight down in the post, because I'm not the biggest guy out there anymore.
Gopher Hole: What are the Gophers saying about you impact-wise? I know that you are going to have to redshirt and would be eligible next January if you get admitted. Do you know what your role with the team would be?
Carson Shanks: They have told me that they see me as an impact player down the line. As of right now, through this next semester, if I get admitted, I will be a walk-on. They have made it very clear that they would be very happy if I came in and earned a scholarship and they think that I can do that. I am just going from there. They want me to work hard, push the guys, push myself, get better and become a good player for them.
Gopher Hole: Coach Pitino is a more up-tempo coach than the previous regime. That seems to be a style that would fit you a little bit better.
Carson Shanks: Yes. At Utah State, it was very set-orientated. A lot of reads. About 100 plays, but now, I can just play and get up and down and run with the guards. I like the way that they use their bigs. I really do.
Gopher Hole: Have you seen much of them this year to see how Eliott Eliason has really seemed to improve a lot and Mo Walker has gotten better?
Carson Shanks: I have been watching them. I watched them last night against Penn State. Elliott really works hard to put himself in positions where he can be successful and his teammate find him. I have been to a practice or two and see how he runs it. In general, I think that it will work out pretty well.
Gopher Hole: Both of those players are going to be seniors next season, so that would mean that you would get some playing time down the road. Is that something you looked at?
Carson Shanks: That is something that they brought up. Obviously, they are going to have to get themselves another big in the recruiting class at some point. They have talked to me about how they want me to step in and try to fill in for Elliott or Mo and get some significant playing time.
Q&A: Carson Shanks Excited to Join Gophers, Eager to Work Hard and Continue Development
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/326556?referrer_id=388419
Carson Shanks, a 7-foot center from Prior Lake (Minn.) High, decided to leave the Utah State program at the semester break and is expected to enroll at Minnesota.
Shanks averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and four rebounds per game last season as the Lakers finished 19-8. They were upset by Lakeville South 75-63 in the first round of the playoffs.
Shanks come from a basketball family. His father, Michael, played at Northern State and his uncle (Brian Shanks), who is 7-3, played at South Dakota State.
Shanks talked to Gopher Hole Thursday morning at Lifetime Fitness, while was working out with former Gopher Mitch Ohnstad, about his decision to leave Utah State and future plans.
Gopher Hole: So when are you enrolling at Minnesota?
Carson Shanks: Well, first, I have to get admitted first. The cat is coming out of the bag on that. The admissions process is going on right now. Just waiting to hear more. Once I know more, I can officially announce everything.
Gopher Hole: When does school start?
Carson Shanks: I think it is January 27th.
Gopher Hole: So, in a perfect world, you are hoping to have everything done by then, right?
Carson Shanks: They have told us that sometime this week, I should know for certain and then from there, we will move on from there.
Gopher Hole: What lead you to decide to go to Minnesota?
Carson Shanks: I went to Utah State and on the drive home, I got a few calls from a few different schools and Ben Johnson called me, who had recruited me at UNI and Nebraska, so I had a good relationship with him. He called me and said that "We want you, We want you to come visit. Pitino wants to work you out" and I went from there.
Gopher Hole: Was it a tough decision to leave Utah State? I know that you had committed to them as a junior.
Carson Shanks: I made some really good relationships there. I couldn't say a bad thing about that school. It wasn't necessarily the right fit for me. Distance-wise from home, I didn't like being that far away. It was not an easy decision.
Gopher Hole: Local fans have not seen you since your high schools days. How has your game changed?
Carson Shanks: From high school compared to now, I was not in great shape. I have gotten into a lot better shape. Really changed the way that I approach the game. I was pretty offensive-minded in high school and now have gotten to a point where I realize that if I want to be a successful college player, that I have to be a complete player who can rebound, defend and run the floor.
Gopher Hole: It looks like your body has changed. Have you put on some weight?
Carson Shanks: Down at Utah State, they put some weight on me and I am still trying to continue that. I went into Utah State, about 248 and really out of shape. Now, I am down to about 225 and I have put some muscle on.
Gopher Hole: Can you tell that change has already made an impact on your basketball?
Carson Shanks: Without a doubt. Just working out right now, it is light years easier than what it used to be. I used to be on my hands and knees and now I know how to push myself through some things.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Carson Shanks: Offensively, I have been really working on my jump hook. I used to be able to just turn and shoot over kids, which I couldn't at Utah State. Now I have learned to shoot that jump hook better. Defensively and overall, I get up the court a lot better. I can run with guards. I can run for longer. I have really learned to fight down in the post, because I'm not the biggest guy out there anymore.
Gopher Hole: What are the Gophers saying about you impact-wise? I know that you are going to have to redshirt and would be eligible next January if you get admitted. Do you know what your role with the team would be?
Carson Shanks: They have told me that they see me as an impact player down the line. As of right now, through this next semester, if I get admitted, I will be a walk-on. They have made it very clear that they would be very happy if I came in and earned a scholarship and they think that I can do that. I am just going from there. They want me to work hard, push the guys, push myself, get better and become a good player for them.
Gopher Hole: Coach Pitino is a more up-tempo coach than the previous regime. That seems to be a style that would fit you a little bit better.
Carson Shanks: Yes. At Utah State, it was very set-orientated. A lot of reads. About 100 plays, but now, I can just play and get up and down and run with the guards. I like the way that they use their bigs. I really do.
Gopher Hole: Have you seen much of them this year to see how Eliott Eliason has really seemed to improve a lot and Mo Walker has gotten better?
Carson Shanks: I have been watching them. I watched them last night against Penn State. Elliott really works hard to put himself in positions where he can be successful and his teammate find him. I have been to a practice or two and see how he runs it. In general, I think that it will work out pretty well.
Gopher Hole: Both of those players are going to be seniors next season, so that would mean that you would get some playing time down the road. Is that something you looked at?
Carson Shanks: That is something that they brought up. Obviously, they are going to have to get themselves another big in the recruiting class at some point. They have talked to me about how they want me to step in and try to fill in for Elliott or Mo and get some significant playing time.
