Gerald Drumgoole is now the newest name to enter the Minnesota Gophers 2019 recruiting sweepstakes.
The 6-foot-6 wing is more than just a name though. He is a three-star prospect according to Rivals, and is ranked No. 139 nationally. He holds offers from Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, DePaul, George Washington, and several mid-majors. Georgetown, Creighton, and Oklahoma are other schools who are recruiting him but have not offered.
He took official visits to see the Gamecocks, Terrapins, and Sooners back in September and October. Now Minnesota enters the recruiting battle as one of the handful of teams that has extended an offer and will get an official visit.
Drumgoole will be in town on an official beginning this Friday.
Corey Evans has told us that nobody has jumped to the front of the pack yet, and that a positive trip could certainly make the senior "gettable." Evans also wrote recently that he expects him to become heavily recruited.
Drumgoole is a strong looking wing with an impressive frame and athleticism. He played football until recently, and has just started focusing on basketball. There is no question he has a high ceiling.
He is most noted for his outside shooting ability. He played last spring and summer with the Albany City Rocks on the NIke EYBL Circuit. Drumgoole was not a top scoring option early on for one of the most talented teams in the country, but along with Joe Girard, they offered one of the top shooting perimeter units around.
Drumgoole took 103 field goal attempts in 18 games. Over half, 57, were from behind the arc. He made 38.6 percent of his attempts. He also only got to the line 26 times, so his main course of doing damage was the long ball.
Eric Bossi liked his game well enough to include him as one of the top uncommitted small forwards in the country.
"This is Drumgoole's first year focusing on basketball after drawing attention as tight end in football. He's a tough and rugged small forward who has taken his lone official visit to South Carolina. Many others are involved and without any visits set up, it's looking like he'll see how things play out through the spring."
We asked Evans to critique Drumgoole's game. He responded, "He is a long and active forward. He doesn't have much of a position right now, but he competes and can really make shots from off of the catch. He was a one time football recruit, and now he is solely a basketball guy, and is someone that can play three positions on either end of the floor. He has room for growth and plenty of intangibles."
Jim Hart, the legendary Head Coach of the City Rocks 17U squad, didn't know a whole lot about Drumgoole before last spring, but quickly joined the fan club.
"Gerald had a great year with us. He started out as the sixth man, and we went went 0-2. We put him in the starting lineup after the first two games, and we won nine straight. He started out with a role, and non-primary role. That was one one a lock down defender and shooter. Then he became a scorer. By the time the Peach Jam rolled around in July, he was a weapon. "So he went from bench player to role player to leading scorer in just three months."
"After that, we went to Las Vegas and Kansas City, " Hart continued. "We didn't have Isaiah Stewart for those tournaments, and he was our leading scorer in both. He does so many things though. He can guard a 6-foot-9 post or a 6-foot-4 guard on the other team. He'll get on the floor and grab the loose ball. He is a tough player who helps his team win."
Hart also threw out a player comparison that might give Minnesota fans a visual.
"Before our season began late last winter, I was watching some basketball on television with our 16U coach. I was trying to find more out about Gerald, and he told me that he is very similar to Admiral Schofield of Tennessee. He is in that 6-foot-5 range, and can do so many different things."
Hart also warned not to take for granted that Drumgoole will be a spring signee just because he is starting to get attention from high major programs. The coach said he is finding the right level of schools and fits on his visits.
"He visited Oklahoma and South Carolina and they were perfect for him. I think Minnesota is in the same category. They are at the right levels in major conferences. They have great coaching staffs, and they are places where he can get better. He is taking these visits to see what works. He hoped to visit Minnesota earlier, but things weren't able to get worked out. Now it is teeth cutting time. He is visiting Minnesota this week so they will get to give it their best shot."
The 6-foot-6 wing is more than just a name though. He is a three-star prospect according to Rivals, and is ranked No. 139 nationally. He holds offers from Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, DePaul, George Washington, and several mid-majors. Georgetown, Creighton, and Oklahoma are other schools who are recruiting him but have not offered.
He took official visits to see the Gamecocks, Terrapins, and Sooners back in September and October. Now Minnesota enters the recruiting battle as one of the handful of teams that has extended an offer and will get an official visit.
Drumgoole will be in town on an official beginning this Friday.
Corey Evans has told us that nobody has jumped to the front of the pack yet, and that a positive trip could certainly make the senior "gettable." Evans also wrote recently that he expects him to become heavily recruited.
Drumgoole is a strong looking wing with an impressive frame and athleticism. He played football until recently, and has just started focusing on basketball. There is no question he has a high ceiling.
He is most noted for his outside shooting ability. He played last spring and summer with the Albany City Rocks on the NIke EYBL Circuit. Drumgoole was not a top scoring option early on for one of the most talented teams in the country, but along with Joe Girard, they offered one of the top shooting perimeter units around.
Drumgoole took 103 field goal attempts in 18 games. Over half, 57, were from behind the arc. He made 38.6 percent of his attempts. He also only got to the line 26 times, so his main course of doing damage was the long ball.
Eric Bossi liked his game well enough to include him as one of the top uncommitted small forwards in the country.
"This is Drumgoole's first year focusing on basketball after drawing attention as tight end in football. He's a tough and rugged small forward who has taken his lone official visit to South Carolina. Many others are involved and without any visits set up, it's looking like he'll see how things play out through the spring."
We asked Evans to critique Drumgoole's game. He responded, "He is a long and active forward. He doesn't have much of a position right now, but he competes and can really make shots from off of the catch. He was a one time football recruit, and now he is solely a basketball guy, and is someone that can play three positions on either end of the floor. He has room for growth and plenty of intangibles."
Jim Hart, the legendary Head Coach of the City Rocks 17U squad, didn't know a whole lot about Drumgoole before last spring, but quickly joined the fan club.
"Gerald had a great year with us. He started out as the sixth man, and we went went 0-2. We put him in the starting lineup after the first two games, and we won nine straight. He started out with a role, and non-primary role. That was one one a lock down defender and shooter. Then he became a scorer. By the time the Peach Jam rolled around in July, he was a weapon. "So he went from bench player to role player to leading scorer in just three months."
"After that, we went to Las Vegas and Kansas City, " Hart continued. "We didn't have Isaiah Stewart for those tournaments, and he was our leading scorer in both. He does so many things though. He can guard a 6-foot-9 post or a 6-foot-4 guard on the other team. He'll get on the floor and grab the loose ball. He is a tough player who helps his team win."
Hart also threw out a player comparison that might give Minnesota fans a visual.
"Before our season began late last winter, I was watching some basketball on television with our 16U coach. I was trying to find more out about Gerald, and he told me that he is very similar to Admiral Schofield of Tennessee. He is in that 6-foot-5 range, and can do so many different things."
Hart also warned not to take for granted that Drumgoole will be a spring signee just because he is starting to get attention from high major programs. The coach said he is finding the right level of schools and fits on his visits.
"He visited Oklahoma and South Carolina and they were perfect for him. I think Minnesota is in the same category. They are at the right levels in major conferences. They have great coaching staffs, and they are places where he can get better. He is taking these visits to see what works. He hoped to visit Minnesota earlier, but things weren't able to get worked out. Now it is teeth cutting time. He is visiting Minnesota this week so they will get to give it their best shot."
