Q&A: Gabe Kalscheur Talks Recruiting, Relationship with Coach Johnson, Pitino

GopherHole Q&A: Gabe Kalscheur Talks Recruiting, Relationship with Gophers Coach Johnson and Pitino
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/774061?referrer_id=

Gabe Kalscheur, a 6-foot-2, 189-pound junior guard from Minneapolis (MN) DeLaSalle, is considered one of the top players in the Minnesota Class of 2018. Kalscheur received a scholarship offer from Minnesota last summer.

Kalscheur scored 27 points to lead DeLaSalle to a 79-56 victory over Fergus Falls in the 3A title game last year to become the first boy's team in Minnesota history to win five straight state championships.

Kalscheur averaged a team-best 19.0 points per game as a sophomore for the Islanders, who finished 24-4. He has scored in double figures in all but three games, including a season-best 30 points versus Champlin Park.

Kalscheur averaged 6.3 points per game as a freshman with five double figure games, including two of the Islanders' three games in the Class AAA state tournament. He had ten points in their first round win over Albany and twelve versus Mankato East in the second round.

Kalscheur caught up with Gopher Hole Thursday after their semifinal win to talk about the latest on his recruitment and winning a sixth straight state title.

Gopher Hole: DeLaSalle is back in the state championship game for the sixth straight year. How pleased are you with how well the team is playing right now?

Gabe Kalscheur: I am very pleased. We play so well with each other. We all get along.

Gopher Hole: This is your third straight title game. How is this team different from the last two that you played on?

Gabe Kalscheur: I feel like we are more connected. Goanar (Mar), our senior, has been a good leader this year and same with me also along the other two seniors, who have been out there.

Gopher Hole: What would it mean to win another state title?

Gabe Kalscheur: It would be history This time, it will prove to be history.

Gopher Hole: Do you ever feel a little pressure because to be honest, a lot of other teams are probably sick of you guys winning every year?

Gabe Kalscheur: I don't think about trying to win another state championship. I just think winning a game because I personally love winning and I don't like losing and when the big lights come on, we just want to win.

Gopher Hole: How pleased are you with your own individual play this year?

Gabe Kalscheur: I feel good. I feel that I have been more of a role leader.

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? How many offers are you up to?

Gabe Kalscheur: Minnesota has offered me. UNI and North Dakota.

Gopher Hole: I know that it is so busy with your high school schedule, but did you get a chance to go to many college games this year?

Gabe Kalscheur: I have been to a lot of Minnesota games. I haven't been to a lot of out-of-state game. I have been just doing school and basketball.

Gopher Hole: Minnesota has a commitment from a player in your class, Daniel Oturu, who you play with on Howard Pulley. What does it mean to have another in-state player commit to Minnesota?

Gabe Kalscheur: He gives me some crap about going to Minnesota, so I am thinking about it. I am thinking about it, but I am just going to see how AAU season goes and we'll see from there.

Gopher Hole: Is he working on you a little though?

Gabe Kalscheur: A little bit. A little bit.

Gopher Hole: What is he saying to you?

Gabe Kalscheur: He just says that they need a player like me and I'm like "I agree with it." .

Gopher Hole: Gopher Hole: Minnesota was 8-23 last year, but were the most improved team in the country this season. Does that change how you look at them?

Gabe Kalscheur: It does. It does. Obviously, they have said that to me, too that they were wanting to improve and they did and that meant a lot to me of what he said.

Gopher Hole: I know that Ben Johnson was here to watch you and he was a DeLaSalle guy. What kind of relationship do you have with him?

Gabe Kalscheur: I have a close relationship with him since he is a DeLaSalle grad and also someone I text a lot and Coach Pitino. I have been texting him a lot.

Gopher Hole: What will it mean to play Division I basketball?

Gabe Kalscheur: It will mean a lot because I have worked a lot to be here and play with the best and compete with the best and I deserve it.

Gopher Hole: Gopher Hole: Do you watch the NCAA Tournament at all?

Gabe Kalscheur: Yes, I have. It's crazy.

Gopher Hole: Did you fill out a bracket?

Gabe Kalscheur: Yes, I did. It does not look good at all.

Gopher Hole: Who did you have winning it all?

Gabe Kalscheur: Kentucky and UCLA.

Gopher Hole: What would it mean to maybe have the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament?

Gabe Kalscheur: It would be good. It would be unthinkable. It would be crazy.

Gopher Hole: What about the opportunity to play for the homestate school? What would that mean for you?

Gabe Kalscheur: It would be great. My mom wouldn't have to go out and watch me and she could just stay here and I could play for her and she could watch me, too.

Gopher Hole: Howard Pulley had great success last year, making it to the Peach Jam. You lose a lot of key players, so you, Daniel and Tre (Jones) are going to be the leaders this year. Is that something that you are looking forward to?

Gabe Kalscheur: It will be a lot of fun, since Tre and Daniel are two of my closest friends. It will be fun. It will be a lot of fun to play with them again.

Don't feel bad Gabe my bracket doesn't look good either.

Obviously I'm a fan of De kids. As far as MN is concerned I get the feel of a kid that isn't necessarily dying to be here and is hoping to get other options. On one hand I'm for the school going after kids they want and staying on them, on the other hand you want a MN offer to mean something and if you've been holding one for almost a year with nothing else other than mid majors, I'm fine with MN saying take it or leave it ASAP.

oleboy41 said:

Obviously I'm a fan of De kids. As far as MN is concerned I get the feel of a kid that isn't necessarily dying to be here and is hoping to get other options. On one hand I'm for the school going after kids they want and staying on them, on the other hand you want a MN offer to mean something and if you've been holding one for almost a year with nothing else other than mid majors, I'm fine with MN saying take it or leave it ASAP.

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I think it's fairly safe to say that he's looking for other choices. But for a guy with limited options he certainly doesn't demonstrate a sense of urgency in committing to MN. Like you mentioned, I tend to think he's using MN as a safety net of sorts. It's one thing if this guy was Tre Jones and you hold out, but he's not. I'm not opposed either to telling him to crap or get off the pot.

I agree with Oleboy, part of me wonders if the Gophers would actually take a commitment from Gabe right now. That said, I believe the staff had a presence at most of his tourney games. His list is so bizarre: a mid major in UNI, a low major in North Dakota, and a B1G school. Pitino himself has been out to see guys like Keyontae Johnson and Eric Hunter who are both rated higher than Gabe and have better offers. You'd think if Gabe wanted to be a Gopher he would have committed by now considering his lack of other offers and the Gophers involvement with other wings with higher profiles.

Perhaps both sides are slow playing each other. Or maybe Gabe senses that he is being slow played and has a chip on his shoulder about it. It's interesting I liked what I saw from him and Terry. Be great to land them both IMO. It was funny during the game when the big screen would zoom in on Thirding every time he didn't get his way on a call. Dude has a lot of Bo Ryan in him. Those wide eyed facial expressions were priceless. Especially when they were up 25