Jamal Mashburn Jr. has been a major priority for the Minnesota Basketball program for a long time. They offered him all the way back on June 18, 2018, and roughly sixteen months later, Mashburn announced that he will be a Gopher.
Mashburn had narrowed his list to Minnesota, Cal, and Wake Forest. He took his official visit to Berkeley on the weekend of September 27, and followed that up with another to the Twin Cities a week later. He was scheduled to see the Demon Deacons on October 25, but shortly after seeing Minnesota he announced that he would not be making that trip, but instead would be making his decision today.
The relationship between the Pitino and Mashburn family goes farther back than just this recruitment. Jamal Sr. was the crowning piece of Rick's chase to restore Kentucky back to college basketball royalty. The "Monster Mash" as Dick Vitale so aptly called him is a phrase that any college basketball fan over forty years of age easily remembers.
This was just one facet that led to the two parties having the opportunity to play the next four seasons together. Mashburn Jr's trust in the coaches as well as their ability to develop his game was key factors. The father is also extremely successful in the business world and the University of Minnesota has a renowned Business School.
Mashburn is a four-star prospect according to Rivals, and is ranked No. 102 in the 2020 Class. He is listed as a shooting guard by just about every analyst, but Minnesota has recruited him as a point guard. With his uncanny ability to shoot the outside shot, he will definitely add scoring ability to the position.
Corey Evans sees him as a solid addition to next season's roster and also can see him excelling in a combo-guard type role.
"Ranked No. 102 nationally in the rising senior class, the six-footer at Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy has earned his reputation as a microwave type of scorer. This past spring and summer he worked on expanding his game.
If Mashburn can make a full-time switch to point guard then his options could expand even more. A guy who can score like him being able to run a team full time would be a valuable commodity.
As it is, he best fits a program where they play interchangeable guards who like to get up shots and see who gets hot."
Mashburn joins another Rivals Top 150 player,
Martice Mitchell, as additions in Minnesota's 2020 Class. The 6-foot-10 Mitchell should spend time at the small forward spot. For now, the leaves one available spot on the roster. Pitino would love to fill that spot with Prior Lake's Dawson Garcia.
We will have more on Mashburn and other basketball recruiting issues this week in The Gopher Report.
Mashburn had narrowed his list to Minnesota, Cal, and Wake Forest. He took his official visit to Berkeley on the weekend of September 27, and followed that up with another to the Twin Cities a week later. He was scheduled to see the Demon Deacons on October 25, but shortly after seeing Minnesota he announced that he would not be making that trip, but instead would be making his decision today.
The relationship between the Pitino and Mashburn family goes farther back than just this recruitment. Jamal Sr. was the crowning piece of Rick's chase to restore Kentucky back to college basketball royalty. The "Monster Mash" as Dick Vitale so aptly called him is a phrase that any college basketball fan over forty years of age easily remembers.
This was just one facet that led to the two parties having the opportunity to play the next four seasons together. Mashburn Jr's trust in the coaches as well as their ability to develop his game was key factors. The father is also extremely successful in the business world and the University of Minnesota has a renowned Business School.
Mashburn is a four-star prospect according to Rivals, and is ranked No. 102 in the 2020 Class. He is listed as a shooting guard by just about every analyst, but Minnesota has recruited him as a point guard. With his uncanny ability to shoot the outside shot, he will definitely add scoring ability to the position.
Corey Evans sees him as a solid addition to next season's roster and also can see him excelling in a combo-guard type role.
"Ranked No. 102 nationally in the rising senior class, the six-footer at Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy has earned his reputation as a microwave type of scorer. This past spring and summer he worked on expanding his game.
If Mashburn can make a full-time switch to point guard then his options could expand even more. A guy who can score like him being able to run a team full time would be a valuable commodity.
As it is, he best fits a program where they play interchangeable guards who like to get up shots and see who gets hot."
Mashburn joins another Rivals Top 150 player,
Martice Mitchell, as additions in Minnesota's 2020 Class. The 6-foot-10 Mitchell should spend time at the small forward spot. For now, the leaves one available spot on the roster. Pitino would love to fill that spot with Prior Lake's Dawson Garcia.
We will have more on Mashburn and other basketball recruiting issues this week in The Gopher Report.
