Minnesota classes are loaded and it seems like it is either instate or out east that Gopher basketball has the most interest.. And it is easy to see why as the Gophers can probably stay instate and do just fine.. I know that the Badgers are trying to keep their inroads in Ohio and there are players in the state of Ohio that would look good in a Gopher uniform along with Matt Hurt.. I love putting it to the Badgers so if we dont get instate kids, here are 10 from Ohio that will probably be good 'gets' to keep an eye on for the future in the class of 2019.
1. Jordan Mitchell - 6-7 Averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds a game as a freshman for Gahanna Lincoln, a Columbus suburb. Has been contacted by Florida, Arizona, and Ohio State. Played with Nick Ward, a top recruit for Michigan State. A small forward who is very good.
2.Jeremiah Francis - 6-2 PG that is close to 200 lbs.. I think if Ohio State offers, this one is over as his dad Jerry was a player and an assistant for the Buckeyes. One of the top PGs in the class. Bull strong at the position. Plays at Pickerington Central, a Columbus area school. His strength reminds me of the old days of a Rumeal Robinson at Michigan on their natty team in 1989.
3. Alonzo Gaffney - 6-7 combo forward Cleveland Villa Angela St Joseph.. He played a solid role on state powerhouse St Joe team as a freshman... Dad, Kevin, played for University of Cincinnati where he averaged 11 points a game as a senior.. Has a sister who plays D2 ball at Northern Kentucky.
4. Amari Davis 6-4 guard Trotwood Madison.... This is a kid that is a good fit for Minnesota if he keeps on the right track. Averaged 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.4 assists AS A FRESHMAN for an uptempo team. Big time transition player as a wing. I would love to bring Pitino to see this team as they started 2 freshmen, 1 sophomore, and 1 junior on the #4 ranked team in Ohio this past year.
5. Tanner Holden - a 6-5 wing player that had a 28 point game as a freshman for a good Wheelersburg team.. A school on the West Virginia border so he is one that will have to be watched at the AAU level as his league competition is not that great.
6. Jeremiah Keene a 6-0 combo guard from Westerville North, a Columbus suburb.. Probably one of the top performers at OSU camp from a scoring standpoint... Has enough range and handles to go to either guard spot.
7. Abba Lawal 6-11 Center for Cincinnati Walnut Hills... Had great flashes of potential.. Very thin and hard to scout a 6-11 freshman post player but was not intimidated in the least in playing in the Cincinnati Public School league as a freshman... He is another one to watch in development.
8. Chris'Sean Stringer - a 6-3 guard out of Cincinnati Taft...... Watch the matchup with him and Amari Davis at Trotwood Madison in the future... They should meet up every year in the Ohio HS playoffs... Stringer is deadly as a FT shooter and good pressure player on a deep team at Taft.
9. Andre Gordon - a good athlete out of Sidney, Ohio(north of Dayton).. a 6-1 guard that will get overshadowed locally by Stringer and Davis because they are bigger players but he could develop very well.
10. Taylor Currie - 6-9 stretch 4 from Worthington Christian.. Wisconsin has talked to a lot of the Columbus area kids and this is one of them.. Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, and others have been in contact, as well.. Minnesota has a better prospect in Hurt but this is another kid to watch.
