All Things 2018 Gophers Basketball Recruiting Thread

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I really like Hunter from my quick YouTube scouting reports...

So to me, this is the way things are kind of shaping up: We have our C for the class and we have to get a PG seeing that Washington will be the only one on the roster after next year. That leaves 2 scholarships (yes there could be more but just play along). Personally, I don't think they'd go that hard after PF this class if Race wasn't in state. I know they have a few other offers out there but personally doubt they end up with one if they don't get Race.
 

RatherBeGolfing said:
I really like Hunter from my quick YouTube scouting reports...

So to me, this is the way things are kind of shaping up: We have our C for the class and we have to get a PG seeing that Washington will be the only one on the roster after next year. That leaves 2 scholarships (yes there could be more but just play along). Personally, I don't think they'd go that hard after PF this class if Race wasn't in state. I know they have a few other offers out there but personally doubt they end up with one if they don't get Race.
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Assuming Fitz doesn't get a 6th year then we would have 5 graduating seniors and 5 spots.
 

Because Locke exploded this spring and has dominated head to head against the elite players. Coaches love Locke for his ability to score from anywhere, his devotion to defense and a toughness that just stands out. Those rankings are mostly worthless after the top 25 which anyone could do. OFFERS are a better reflection if you can not see them in person. I have seen Locke 6 times this spring.
 




Biggsohnasty said:
You forgot people are incapable of that and attach to the small miniscule details rather than worry about the overarching theme of an individual post.

It's the internet man c'mon.
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Well having five schollies open vs. four is a big detail. It's strange to model our class around a less likely scenario.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

I now realize I didn't type out the rest of what I meant to put in that post...

The entire point of my post was let's say we have 4 scholarships (just for discussions sake - I agree we will probably end up with 5 but I'm curious to hear opinions on this as I've thought about it), where are you spending the remaining 2 considering class balance, position need, etc.? This is assuming they take a PG because... well they pretty much have to.
 



RatherBeGolfing said:
I now realize I didn't type out the rest of what I meant to put in that post...

The entire point of my post was let's say we have 4 scholarships (just for discussions sake - I agree we will probably end up with 5 but I'm curious to hear opinions on this as I've thought about it), where are you spending the remaining 2 considering class balance, position need, etc.? This is assuming they take a PG because... well they pretty much have to.
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I'd say we just take the 2 best SG,SF or PF prospects that we can get. It appears that that will be the case as Race and Gabe appear to be the two best prospects of that position group that we have a decent chance to get.

Right now we have Dupree and Harris at SG, Coffey and Hurt at SF and Curry and Murphy at PF for the 2018-19 team. I'd say it'd be slightly more important to get a SF in this class over a PF or SG due to the possibility of Amir going pro after next year and Hurt isn't great yet but not it's not important enough to the point where we would have to take a SF if we have 2 better SG and PF recruits that want to commit.

I think theres a scenario where it's possible that you would want a PF recruit in this class and that scenario goes like this: Curry is clearly the best 5 man on the roster in 2018-19 and Stockman ends up being not very good and the same player he was at Louisville. In that scenario, you'd have Curry and Oturu at center and Murphy starting at PF with the freshman PF (Race or Forrester?) backing up Murphy.
 


GopherHole Q&A: Nebraska Junior Big Man Brady Heiman Talks Recruiting, Relationship with Ben Johnson and Playing Against Oturu
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/794119?referrer_id=

Brady Heiman, a 6-foot-10, 195-pound junior center from Springfield (NE) Platteview, is one of the top big men in the Midwest.

Heiman averaged 15.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.8 blocked shots per game as a junior as he helped lead the Trojans to a 21-5 record, losing to Alliance 65-60 in the first round of the Nebraska Class B state tournament. He scored in double figures in all but two games and had five games of 20 or more points, including a season-high 25 versus Bishop Neuman. Heiman had six games of double figure rebounds and blocked eleven shots in a game.

Gopher Hole recently caught up with Heiman after playing in the Sanford Pentagon League in Maplewood to learn more about his Minnesota visit and early recruitment.

Gopher Hole: You have grown an inch since last year. Have you talked to your doctor about possibly growing more?

Brady Heiman: They said 6-11.

Gopher Hole: Your AAU team is off to a great start. You were 3-0 Saturday. How pleased are you with how well you have been playing this spring?

Brady Heiman: This spring has been really good. The first two games (in Maplewood), we were trying to get into a different style of play here. We were missing our point guard for this tournament. I am happy with our spring.

Gopher Hole: Where are you playing after this?

Brady Heiman: We will go to Omaha for the second part of this Pentagon.

Gopher Hole: What is the experience like playing in the Pentagon series, because you are playing against kids that you might play against in college. How do you think that helps your game?

Brady Heiman: Playing against some of the best shooters in the nation, I guess, because all these kids can shoot, you have to play defense. All of them can shoot, so you have to get out on defense.

Gopher Hole: How about your junior season. You had a good year and made it to the state tournament and lost in the first round. How pleased were with your junior season?

Brady Heiman: It was a good year. We got our school record for wins in a season. We got me and my teammate here (Nate Thayer, who averaged a team-best 20.9 points per game) and we return everybody for next year.

Gopher Hole: Is that something that you think with you and Nate coming back that you guys can go even farther next year?

Brady Heiman: Yes. We return all but one senior and our senior was sixth, seventh man. Our goal is to win it next year.

Gopher Hole: How about your own individual play. How pleased with how well you played this past year?

Brady Heiman: Other than that state game (he was held to four points and was just two of 13 from the field), I played pretty well. Right around 16 (points) and nine (rebounds) averages, so not bad. I think I can do a little bit better, coming up.

Gopher Hole: I think that you have three offers right now. South Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha and Drake is that right?

Brady Heiman: The Drake coach got fired. (Drake under former Minnesota assistant coach Niko Medved, re-offered an offer this week).

Gopher Hole: You were up to Minnesota earlier this year for a game. What game was that?

Brady Heiman: The Michigan game. They won in overtime.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?

Brady Heiman: I talk to Ben Johnson pretty weekly. I like them a lot. Good program.

Gopher Hole: What are they saying to you?

Brady Heiman: They like my versatility, playing the four or five on offense and defense.

Gopher Hole: The Gophers have a commitment from a 2018 big man Daniel Oturu. You played against him earlier this spring. What were your impressions of him?

Brady Heiman: Super athletic. Super good kid. I think that we lost by eight to their team. We were winning at halftime, I think. Give us another shot at them and we could pull one out.

Gopher Hole: Is that a guy that if you were to come to Minnesota that you could see yourself playing alongside of?

Brady Heiman: Oh, yeah. Definitely. A little inside-out game.

Gopher Hole: What things are you really working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?

Brady Heiman: A lot of footwork stuff. I lift like two times a week right now, trying to get stronger and do footwork.

Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a player?

Brady Heiman: Inside, if I can get to a right or left-hand hook, I am almost automatic with that. Defensively, I've lead the state of Nebraska for blocked shots, I think, three years in a row.

Gopher Hole: Are you going to any individual or college camps this summer?

Brady Heiman: I'm going to. I haven't decided which ones yet. I'll plan that out in June.

Gopher Hole: You were at a Nebraska game earlier this year. What was that experience like?

Brady Heiman: Some of the best fans in the country here in Nebraska. Their new stadium is pretty nice.

Gopher Hole: Would it be a dream to play at Nebraska, the home state school?

Brady Heiman: Home state school would be nice. I don't know exactly what I want to do yet after basketball, so I got to look at that, too.

Gopher Hole: What other schools are you hearing from besides the two offers?

Brady Heiman: I am hearing from Drake again. Minnesota, Nebraska, Creighton, Wichita State, Cornell and a few others.

Gopher Hole: I know that you probably ways from making a college choice, but what are going to be the main factors that make you pick School A or School B or C?

Brady Heiman: First, look at the coaching, someone I can mesh with and academics-wise. See what I want to go into.

Gopher Hole: Was that the first time you had been to Minnesota's campus?

Brady Heiman: Yes.

Gopher Hole: What were your impressions of the campus and arena?

Brady Heiman: The campus was nice. We came up in the winter, I think, but it was still a nice day. It was like 60. The arena is retro. I like the lifted court. I got to shoot on that. Seems like anyone can shoot on their floor.

Gopher Hole: Do you come from an athletic family?

Brady Heiman: My dad was a Division II national champion high jumper in college (Chadron State) and he played a little bit of basketball and I have a little brother, who is coming up, so we'll see what he can do and see if he can help us this season.

Gopher Hole: I know that you are also a high jumper. Your best is 6-7. How do you think that helps you for basketball?

Brady Heiman: Probably just keeping shape, doing the track workouts after school every day.

Gopher Hole: What was your dad's all-time high?

Brady Heiman: 7-2.

Gopher Hole: Is that something that you would even try to pursue in college? Or is just too har timing-wise to do both?

Brady Heiman: It would be cool to do them both in college, but timing, yeah, would be hard.

Gopher Hole: You are going to be a four-year starter in high school. That is something that you have to be very proud about?

Brady Heiman: Yes. I remember my freshman year at tryouts. I waited around after thinking if I would make the team or not and the coaches told me to go home, I'm fine. I was so worried up until that.

Gopher Hole: You seem like a close group AAU-wise. Do you think that helps you a lot on the court?

Brady Heiman: Hanging out with the guys afterwards. I don't know what we will do tonight. Find something, go out to eat, but I definitely thinking being friends with all the guys helps.

Gopher Hole: What would it mean to maybe have the opportunity to play Division I basketball?

Brady Heiman: That is every kid's dream growing up, so just realizing a dream.
 

die hard gopher said:
I'd say we just take the 2 best SG,SF or PF prospects that we can get. It appears that that will be the case as Race and Gabe appear to be the two best prospects of that position group that we have a decent chance to get.
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Often over the Pitino era there are a few recruits that come out of the woodwork that we don't know about. I'm not saying this is the case this time but I would be more surprised if we actually know about everyone.
 



Does anybody else think that the success Oturu, Gabe, and Tre are having with Pulley helps our chances? Maybe I'm just getting a little too excited but damn Gabe is playing well and we have been on him early and he really only has two offers (us and pitt) although that will change. I know Tre is obviously going to be the hardest one to get but hey he's had success playing with those two.
 

MinnGopher said:
Does anybody else think that the success Oturu, Gabe, and Tre are having with Pulley helps our chances? Maybe I'm just getting a little too excited but damn Gabe is playing well and we have been on him early and he really only has two offers (us and pitt) although that will change. I know Tre is obviously going to be the hardest one to get but hey he's had success playing with those two.
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Nope...not at all. Didn't help with Reid or Tyus, who had a successful grassroots run in 2013, nor did it help last year with Trent or Davison and their EYBL success. Although these kids love playing for each other, there are far greater factors that impact a college decision (established relationships w/coaches, playing time, etc.). With that being said, I'd be thrilled if we got all 3 of these kids, but certainly am not counting on it.
 

Do we think Sims is going to look to decommit after the Bamba news or is he still 100% in at Texas? Not sure if Sims projects as a 5 in college but I think he'd struggle at the 4 right now.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Do we think Sims is going to look to decommit after the Bamba news or is he still 100% in at Texas? Not sure if Sims projects as a 5 in college but I think he'd struggle at the 4 right now.
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Bamba is probably only one year, right? that said, he did cite Texas' academics as a reason for selecting texas. not sure how much can be accomplished in one semester
 

mnhoopboy said:
Nope...not at all. Didn't help with Reid or Tyus, who had a successful grassroots run in 2013, nor did it help last year with Trent or Davison and their EYBL success. Although these kids love playing for each other, there are far greater factors that impact a college decision (established relationships w/coaches, playing time, etc.). With that being said, I'd be thrilled if we got all 3 of these kids, but certainly am not counting on it.
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The big difference in this scenario is there's an anchor (Oturu) already committed to the Gophers, with the possibility of pulling the others along. Not a huge probability of that happening, but that's more than Pitino had with either Reid and Tyus or Trent and Davison, where there was no skin in the game for Gopher basketball.
 

GopherOhana said:
Bamba is probably only one year, right? that said, he did cite Texas' academics as a reason for selecting texas. not sure how much can be accomplished in one semester
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Fair points. I'd be surprised if Bamba has aspirations of obtaining a college degree in the next 4-5 years. Not saying he doesn't value school but a likely lottery pick rarely sticks around for 4 years.
 

WindyCityGopher said:
The big difference in this scenario is there's an anchor (Oturu) already committed to the Gophers, with the possibility of pulling the others along. Not a huge probability of that happening, but that's more than Pitino had with either Reid and Tyus or Trent and Davison, where there was no skin in the game for Gopher basketball.
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I'm pretty sure we also didn't recruit Trent or Davison very hard. And I'd guess we were very close to getting Reid Travis until a last minute change of heart.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Do we think Sims is going to look to decommit after the Bamba news or is he still 100% in at Texas? Not sure if Sims projects as a 5 in college but I think he'd struggle at the 4 right now.
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Sims has already signed a letter of intent to Texas. He could ask for a release, but I'm not sure why Texas would feel obligated to release him.
 

Cayman said:
Sims has already signed a letter of intent to Texas. He could ask for a release, but I'm not sure why Texas would feel obligated to release him.
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I understand that he signed a letter of intent. He could definitely ask for it, most schools would grant it because an unhappy player does them no good. Or he sits our a year and goes elsewhere AND makes them look bad for not giving the release.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
I understand that he signed a letter of intent. He could definitely ask for it, most schools would grant it because an unhappy player does them no good. Or he sits our a year and goes elsewhere AND makes them look bad for not giving the release.
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Yeah I thought about the possible bad publicity of refusing to release a kid who wants it, but if they do release him, just because he changed his mind, what's the point of signing a letter of intent? It seems like it kind of defeats the purpose of the agreement if the athlete can wiggle out of it just by whining hard enough. If he wasn't dead set on going to Texas, he could have chosen not to sign, which would give him the ability to freely flip his commitment, while at the same time not forcing Texas to give him a scholarship if they later find out that they can get a better player instead.

Signing a LOI has advantages and disadvantages to both the program and the player, and the player gets all the advantages of a guaranteed scholarship with none of the disadvantages of a binding commitment if schools decide to release players just because they change their mind and throw a fit if they aren't released.

This is all probably moot though, as I doubt Sims will ask for release, and we don't have a 2017 scholarship available for him anyway.
 

All this talk of people not going to college X anymore after some other player decides to go there is annoying. In what world does a kid think he is going to be the last player at his position to ever sign with that college? There is always going to be competition for playing time no matter who you are or where you go.

Sims all of a sudden "wanting to leave Texas" because another super talented big decided to go there is just dumb. Same with Jones "not wanting to go to Duke now" because of Duval. If they wanted to go to a college where they would shoot 100% of the shots, have no competition for playing time, and play 40 mins per game they would not be targeting Duke or Texas as their decisions. These guys likely want to win games and develop their games so they have an outside shot of going pro which is what will happen when you practice against good players every day who also help your team win.

Sims is not going to be part of our roster next year.
 

Anyway back to '18 recruits, I'd agree that you take BPA. The only real reason I brought it up is the 3 position worries me quite a bit after next year as you theoretically could only have Hurt there though I don't think it's likely
 

I don't think it's been mentioned in this thread, but Keyontae Johnson also plans on visiting in Minnesota in June (per Ryan James).

In the '18 class, I feel like the most important piece the staff needs to add is someone who is between 6'5 and 6'8 and can get his own shot. I don't think we can count on Coffey being around in '18 and we lack size in out backcourt recruits for '17. There are a few guys who fit this profile (at least from a size perspective) who the Gophers have been connected to at times: Sid Wilson, Keyontae Johnson, Jeenathan Williams, Isaiah Mucius, Kamani Johnson, Justin Winston and Josh LeBlanc. I've really liked what little I've seen of LeBlanc who is a guy that Ed Conroy is recruiting.

My hunch right now is the Gophers will try to get 3 more commitments by the time the signing period opens and then save a scholarship for Tre Jones (guys with his ranking/pedigree often commit in the Spring after playing time situations at places like Kentucky/Duke becomes more clear) and look to take a transfer in the event that Jones goes elsewhere. I don't think they take 5 freshman unless it's a situation where someone like Tre wants to come.
 

Why do you think we can't count on Coffey in 18? Are you thinking he goes to the NBA??
 



I mean, I'm high on Oturu but I don't think anyone would take him over Tre Jones.
 

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