2022 Recruiting

[Rickman55]

I don’t think I’ve been this excited about Gopher WBB recruits in a long time! I love that there are so many Minnesota kids committing! Braun is good! I had no idea how good she was until I watched video of her playing Hopkins. Wow I am just so excited for this class!

The video I saw she went around Bueckers a couple of times. She‘s two years younger and she looked great. I’m really excited about these MN kids staying home. It’s time for season tickets. I had them back in the Whalen and Carvile days and I think we are headed back to those days of big crowds and exciting basketball.

 

[samloupete]

I echo the season ticket idea

 

[gopher572]

Interview with Mara -

 

[Frink]

Excellent, more great news on the local front. That is a tremendous class.

Based on what was posted above there was only a scholly available Mershon got a waiver. Is that correct? I though Braun would put as at 15 for that year which is the limit but I'll admit I'm not an expert on that.

 

[gopher572]

Excellent, more great news on the local front. That is a tremendous class.

Based on what was posted above there was only a scholly available Mershon got a waiver. Is that correct? I though Braun would put as at 15 for that year which is the limit but I'll admit I'm not an expert on that.

This chart shows 15 players without Mara. Obviously a lot can happen between now and then and they will find a way to make it work.

Minnesota Women's Basketball Recruiting | WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Minnesota women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

 

[Frink]

This chart shows 15 players without Mara. Obviously a lot can happen between now and then and they will find a way to make it work.

Minnesota Women's Basketball Recruiting | WBB Blog

Recruiting summary for Minnesota women's basketball, including a scholarship chart (projecting open spots for upcoming classes), commitments, and targets

wbbblog.com

Thanks 572. Braun does sound like the caliber of player you absolutely find room for. Maybe we'll here some news on Mershon soon.

 

[Belzx009]

I would be absolutely shocked if there wasn’t a departure or another something to happen in 2 years to open a scholarship. It’s college athletics, things are ever changing.
My question now goes on what this means for Amaya Battle. Do you think they continue to offer her or will they be done recruiting?

 

[Katogopher]

I believe its been mentioned here before but the NCAA is sopposed to vote all transfer players immediate eligibility on December 16th, maybe see Mershon soon!

 

[bball_craz_26]

I would be absolutely shocked if there wasn’t a departure or another something to happen in 2 years to open a scholarship. It’s college athletics, things are ever changing.
My question now goes on what this means for Amaya Battle. Do you think they continue to offer her or will they be done recruiting?

The Gophers have told Amaya and Mara (before she committed) that they have room for both. Not sure what that means in terms of current roster or people transferring. With 3 commits (Heyer, Holloway, and Braun) it's unknown what others they are continuing to look at but here is the list of who had known Gopher offers. These ones have not publicly put out a list or removed Gophers or have Gophers pulled the offer from them to my knowledge.

Amaya Battle-Hopkins-Hopkins-5’11 Guard

Out of State Offers:

Ayanna Patterson, 6’3 W, Fort Wayne HS (IN) ESPN Ranked #3

Brianna McDaniel, 5’10 G, Kenwood Academy (IL) ESPN Ranked #30

(Top 15: Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan State, Clemson, Georgia, Louisville, Texas, Maryland, Florida, Miami, Mississippi State, Duke)

Alyssa Crockett, 6’2 W, Westfield HS (IN) ESPN Ranked #36

Emily LaChapell, 5’11 W, Appleton East (WI)

Aaliyah Smith, 5’5 PG, Verona HS (WI)

Acacia Hayes, 5’7 PG, Riverdale HS (TN)

 

[bball_craz_26]

This is video, its a lot of highlights of Mara playing against Hopkins. the 2:22 mark of the video shows her going 1-1 with Bueckers and finishing the and-1.

 

[thatjanelpick]

Repeating that it's possible some players, especially MN players, are not on scholarship.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Loading…

bvmsports.com

Matthew Morris BVM: Mara Braun article:

PLYMOUTH, Minn. (BVM) —

On Dec. 7, Mara Braun made a dream come true when she verbally committed to play basketball at the University of Minnesota.

“It was a little overwhelming at first,” Braun said. “I had to put my phone down for a second and when I picked it back it was already blowing up. It’s still surreal.”

The decision has been years in the making ever since Minnesota first began recruiting her the summer after she finished eighth grade. In fact, Minnesota was the first college to give her an offer.

“That’s when I realized, ‘Wow it’s becoming real,’” Braun said. “I always dreamt of it and I went to Gopher games as a kid and just to have this all become a reality is pretty cool.

For Braun, along with the Gophers, basketball had always been a part of her life.

“I grew up in the gym,” Braun said. “I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember.”

Although she played other sports growing up, basketball had always been above the rest. Both her brother and dad played as well, so she was never too far from a court or a basketball.

Braun was a natural and with her dedication to get better, she began playing a year up, first on travel teams and then with the North Tartan AAU team. She credits playing a year up for giving her confidence and pushing her to be better.

“It created this extra love for the game and me wanting to keep going with it,” Braun said.

 

[Shades]

The decision has been years in the making ever since Minnesota first began recruiting her the summer after she finished eighth grade. In fact, Minnesota was the first college to give her an offer.

Was this Whalen or Stollings?

 

[gopher572]

Was this Whalen or Stollings?

The Star Tribune article said Mara was offered the scholarship in December of her Freshman year by Whalen.

 

[bball_craz_26]

Was this Whalen or Stollings?

HAHAHAHA of course... now he is trying to discredit Whalen's recruiting success... Pathetic.

Lets do the math should we..

Mara is currently a Junior (hence she is a 2022) Whalen Hired April 2018. So April 2021, will be 3 years. Go back one year, its her sophomore year, go back two years, its her freshman year, and then go back 3 years and Whalen was hired in April of Mara's 8th grade year. So...now that the math has been done...if her Minnesota recruitment started in summer of 2018, Who would be the one recruiting Braun? Oh right... Whalen. sorry to burst your bubble, she gets credit for all three of the 2022 recruits. I'm sure that's hard for you to deal with

 

[Gophers112233]

Was this Whalen or Stollings?

Stollings? she was gone before Mara was a freshman... THIS IS ALL WHALEN and CO.. Stollings didn't even bother driving to Hopkins during her 4 years here, she didn't RECRUIT MINNESOTA kids at all..

so now that Whalen is getting top recruits you are trying to pass this success on Stollings.. give me a break Shades..

must be tough to see Whalen get all this talent to stay home.. as we know you aren't a fan of her at all.

 

[Belzx009]

I don’t know if I would have bothered recruiting Hopkins kids either. The simply seem to never come to Minnesota no matter how hard you recruit them.

 

[ecoperson]

I don’t know if I would have bothered recruiting Hopkins kids either. The simply seem to never come to Minnesota no matter how hard you recruit them.

Leslie Knight says hello! And Amir and Hoffarber on the men's side.



Granted Knight was over ten years ago! There certainly have been a number of misses over the last 5 years but I have faith that Whalen can start to turn the tide. The recent commitments from three members of the Class of '22 from the State of Minnesota show an uptick in quality. If we can turn that quality into on the court success, we can compete for the best players in the country.

 

[Belzx009]

Leslie Knight says hello! And Amir and Hoffarber on the men's side.

View attachment 10929

Granted Knight was over ten years ago! There certainly have been a number of misses over the last 5 years but I have faith that Whalen can start to turn the tide. The recent commitments from three members of the Class of '22 from the State of Minnesota show an uptick in quality. If we can turn that quality into on the court success, we can compete for the best players in the country.

As was Jordan Barnes after Minnesota had the large exit.
However in my one conversation with Coach Cosgriff I got the impression he wanted his kids to go elsewhere. Most of the conversation was on Bueckers, but I still wasn’t overly enthusiastic after talking to him about keeping Hopkins kids at the U. The conversation also included some talk of Leslie Knight, so yes I’m very aware she went to Hopkins. Knights senior year of High School the Gophers went to the Final 4. Maybe with a new coach a new trend will happen. Or maybe Whalens ability to recruit Minnesota will reach Hopkins kids.

 

[ecoperson]

As was Jordan Barnes after Minnesota had the large exit.
However in my one conversation with Coach Cosgriff I got the impression he wanted his kids to go elsewhere. Most of the conversation was on Bueckers, but I still wasn’t overly enthusiastic after talking to him about keeping Hopkins kids at the U. The conversation also included some talk of Leslie Knight, so yes I’m very aware she went to Hopkins. Knights senior year of High School the Gophers went to the Final 4. Maybe with a new coach a new trend will happen. Or maybe Whalens ability to recruit Minnesota will reach Hopkins kids.

We can only hope that some of the little gym rats will remember the magical run to the Final 4 and want to stay home. Having love for your hometown seems to be a dying ember not only in MN but across the country. The grass is always greener somewhere else. Unfortunately, it is a little harder to convince a stud from some other part of the country to come try on some MN parkas!

Cosgriff didn't actively steer kids away from the U but he certainly didn't seem to emphasize the importance of staying home. I do think that Stollings didn't pay enough attention to MN players and I think that we lost some momentum there. Whalen seems to be making some inroads. She can tell them what it is like to be a hometown hero!

 

[samloupete]

Cosgriff is not coaching any longer and that’s a good thing. I still marvel at the fact that Bueckers had posters of Whalen hanging on her bedroom wall, but still chose to play for Auriemma. Hmmm?!

 

[manderson1984]

We can only hope that some of the little gym rats will remember the magical run to the Final 4 and want to stay home. Having love for your hometown seems to be a dying ember not only in MN but across the country. The grass is always greener somewhere else. Unfortunately, it is a little harder to convince a stud from some other part of the country to come try on some MN parkas!

Cosgriff didn't actively steer kids away from the U but he certainly didn't seem to emphasize the importance of staying home. I do think that Stollings didn't pay enough attention to MN players and I think that we lost some momentum there. Whalen seems to be making some inroads. She can tell them what it is like to be a hometown hero!

It's not just Cosgriff. AAU directors have a lot of input here too.

 

[ecoperson]

It's not just Cosgriff. AAU directors have a lot of input here too.

AAU has helped the growth of the game but has also has brought in a little bit of the seedy side of sports. AAU is motivated not by home town pride but by increasing their own 'brand.' They do not benefit from closing the borders. They gain more exposure by getting more MN athletes schollies across the country.

 

[Shades]

Cosgriff is not coaching any longer and that’s a good thing. I still marvel at the fact that Bueckers had posters of Whalen hanging on her bedroom wall, but still chose to play for Auriemma. Hmmm?!

Not only did she want to win championships, she wanted to go where her bestie Fudd would be willing to go.

 

[Shades]

Mara is currently a Junior (hence she is a 2022) Whalen Hired April 2018. So April 2021, will be 3 years. Go back one year, its her sophomore year, go back two years, its her freshman year, and then go back 3 years and Whalen was hired in April of Mara's 8th grade year. So...now that the math has been done...if her Minnesota recruitment started in summer of 2018, Who would be the one recruiting Braun?

I didn’t have time to “do the math” at the time I asked, that’s why I politely asked here.... hoping someone polite would respond instead of you. It was certainly close enough to be a fair question, was it not?

I thought I read that Braun has always wanted to be a Gopher, so if that’s the case, she falls in the Carlie Wagner category of easy to recruit to Minnesota.

Regardless, it’s a good signing. I like it. Now let’s see this “great recruiting prowess” put into action into landing some great post players. Let’s see some Top 25 rated players from throughout the country.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

The class of 2022 is the first class that Lindsey has a chance to recruit from scratch.

Coming in without any prior relationships with players, either as an assistant or head coach put her behind the eight ball.

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

If y'all always keep looking to the future your going to be disappointed. There are 4* and 5* kids on this team. Kids like Mershon and Kadi were rated higher then our 2022 kids. The trick is finding kids that fit your style, your identity.. Do you want quickness, shooters, length, size.. Its a puzzle and unfortunately it takes years to figure that out.. A additional coach on staff we should add would be a very successful AAU coach, they are plugged in to these kids. Some kids are not good enough to play on their states top AAU program, so its not likely they will turn into Power 5 kids.
This game is understanding how to recruit the youth, thats why SDSU, Drake and GB are so successful over the years, they know they arent going to get the 5* kid, probably not even a 4*, but what they do know better then anybody else is how to get kids that fit their system.
SDSU develops long kids that were raw in HS, Drake goes after kids that all handle the ball and are very active, can run a motion offense, and GB they are about 'team' kids that fit their style of play. You wont ever see a kid at GB with carries attitude baggage.
My point is going out and getting the best kid on the board isn't always the answer.

 

[Belzx009]

If y'all always keep looking to the future your going to be disappointed. There are 4* and 5* kids on this team. Kids like Mershon and Kadi were rated higher then our 2022 kids. The trick is finding kids that fit your style, your identity.. Do you want quickness, shooters, length, size.. Its a puzzle and unfortunately it takes years to figure that out.. A additional coach on staff we should add would be a very successful AAU coach, they are plugged in to these kids. Some kids are not good enough to play on their states top AAU program, so its not likely they will turn into Power 5 kids.
This game is understanding how to recruit the youth, thats why SDSU, Drake and GB are so successful over the years, they know they arent going to get the 5* kid, probably not even a 4*, but what they do know better then anybody else is how to get kids that fit their system.
SDSU develops long kids that were raw in HS, Drake goes after kids that all handle the ball and are very active, can run a motion offense, and GB they are about 'team' kids that fit their style of play. You wont ever see a kid at GB with carries attitude baggage.
My point is going out and getting the best kid on the board isn't always the answer.

I like this post. My excitement about the future comes mostly from the fact that’s it’s so many Minnesota kids. Kids you see in summer tournaments, kids who see down at the state tournament. Kids that I want my youth to be looking up to. I do completely agree with your point about SDSU and company. I think Minnesota needs a system. I think they need to play better defense, and run more set plays. I think the recruits are good pieces to the puzzle. I do think the coaches have work to do putting the puzzle together better then it is right now. Attitude is a big factor. Another reason I have always loved kids who grow up wanting to be Gophers. I feel like they have a different pride for being on the team and representing their home state. I still think the players they have currently can make a good team.

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

I like this post. My excitement about the future comes mostly from the fact that’s it’s so many Minnesota kids. Kids you see in summer tournaments, kids who see down at the state tournament. Kids that I want my youth to be looking up to. I do completely agree with your point about SDSU and company. I think Minnesota needs a system. I think they need to play better defense, and run more set plays. I think the recruits are good pieces to the puzzle. I do think the coaches have work to do putting the puzzle together better then it is right now. Attitude is a big factor. Another reason I have always loved kids who grow up wanting to be Gophers. I feel like they have a different pride for being on the team and representing their home state. I still think the players they have currently can make a good team.

I'm not sure I understand your comment 'they need to run more set plays'. A good offense is about movement, options, read the Defense. If you run a set play more then once, how long do you think it will take for the scouting report to pick up on it.
When we coach the youth, we highly discourage set plays, we want the kids to read the defense and make decisions. Nothing will be more confusing to a young gopher team then to turn to set plays, because of their youth they will become to mechanical and when the set play breaks down they wont have the experience to know what to do next. Dont get me wrong you need set plays, but you need to use them coming out of timeouts and when you need a quick hit.

 

[Belzx009]

I'm not sure I understand your comment 'they need to run more set plays'. A good offense is about movement, options, read the Defense. If you run a set play more then once, how long do you think it will take for the scouting report to pick up on it.
When we coach the youth, we highly discourage set plays, we want the kids to read the defense and make decisions. Nothing will be more confusing to a young gopher team then to turn to set plays, because of their youth they will become to mechanical and when the set play breaks down they wont have the experience to know what to do next. Dont get me wrong you need set plays, but you need to use them coming out of timeouts and when you need a quick hit.

I agree, use it out of time outs and such. However when you are having multiple 3 and 4 minute scoring droughts you might need to set up a play to score. You are correct that people scout and figure it out. It’s making up for something you might not have in other places. My experience is with a head coach who puts in new plays before any big game. I agree with teaching them how to be players as well. That’s what we use summer for. Zero plays are run in the summer. This is just my experience and my thoughts.