AAU basketball was back on the burner this weekend in Ames, Iowa. The state of Minnesota was well represented with both D1 Minnesota and Howard Pulley in action. D1 had a perfect weekend, and to cap things off, three of their players picked up Gopher offers Saturday evening.
Our own Connor Stevens was in attendance, and provided up to the minute details on the Inside Gopher Nation message board. He also offered in-depth scouting reports on two of the three players offered: David Joplin and Eli King. D1 will be hosting The Summer Classic next weekend, and Connor will have more on Joel Hurlburt as well as the rest of the roster.
Meanwhile here is a closer look at the three which includes offers, scouting reports and early recruiting summaries.
Joe Hurlburt
Offers: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Dakota, North Dakota State
His Recruitment: Minnesota was the third offer from the Big Ten that
Joe Hurlburt can claim. The 6-foot-10 big man from North Dakota also owns other ones from Iowa and Wisconsin with Colorado being another Power Five program to offer.
Hurlburt has some indirect ties with each program and state. Obviously he plays in the D1 Minnesota organization. So far the Gophers have also offered Kendall Brown, Camden Heide, David Joplin,
Eli King and Elvis Nnaji from D1. Treyton Thomspon also plays for the program and has already committed to Minnesota.
Hurlburt has already taken an unofficial visit to Iowa and his aunt, Cindy Haugjorde, is the all-time leading scorers on the Hawkeyes' women's team.
Wisconsin has a good relationship with the AAU program. Alumni members Nate Reuvers, Tyler Wahl, Ben Carlson and Steven Crowl are now Badgers. The North Dakota native is also being recruited by Joe Krabbenhoft, who is from South Dakota. Matthew Mors willl also be a freshman next season. He is fro South Dakota as well.
When it comes to factors that will go into a decision on down the line, Hurlburt told Jon McNamara of the Badger Blitz, "All the schools that have offered me have been in contact, along with Minnesota, Oregon State, Oregon and few others," Hurlburt said. "I want to have a great relationship with the coaches and then it's about finding a great fit on and off the court. Those will be the most important things for me."
David Joplin
Offers: Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Missouri, UNLV, Valpo, Vanderbilt.
Scouting Report: "Joplin is from Brookfield, Wisconsin and playing for D1 this summer. He had a monster game, I'm not sure on the exact stats but he really impressed me. Great athleticism, good rebounder and even knocked down a few three's. He has eight offers right now, including Depaul, Georgetown, Missouri, and Vanderbilt but I expect that number to go up soon. He was really impressive. Definitely had upwards of 20 points and did it ridiculously efficiently.
Joplin was another name that I mentioned yesterday that got a Gopher offer later in the night. He's a very athletic forward that can dunk everything. His jumpshot needs some work, but the mechanics are there for him to improve. He moves really well for a power forward. I have questions about his handle because he was never really asked to do so on this team, but he moves really well. He's probably more of a four right now, but at 6'7" he looks to be a bit of a 'tweener between the three and four. Ideal if he can become a better ball-handler and move to the three, but I do believe he can have success playing some four in the Big Ten." Connor Stevens from this past weekend in Ames
"A strong-minded forward that can make shots out of the spot-up to 22-feet, though his mechanics are not conventional as he tends to release the ball over his head, it does go in more times than not. He is a powerful athlete that finishes on the break and possesses extended length that he uses well around the basket and to defend near and further away from the rim.
Joplin must tighten his handles and show that he can create better than just the occasional straight-line attack but there is enough evidence that would show that DePaul and Georgetown are ahead of the curve with him. He might not be a star at the high-major level but he is someone that can be plugged into a various spot and also someone that you need in order to win.
He can make shots, defend and does not lack for toughness which equates to a solid three-star prospect and a prospect that high-majors will soon be calling more often." Corey Evans from his past May
His Recruitment - Joplin was listed as one of the breakout performers by Evans that he wanted to see this summer. Even despite the lack of live periods, high major programs have begun to take notice. Since May he has picked up offers from Butler, Minnesota, Missouri, and Vanderbilt. He is hearing from others such as Iowa, Marquette, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
In a recent interview with Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou, Joplin said he will be looking for, "one that believes in me and believes in what I can become. A winning school and a school where i can build good relationships."
Eli King
Offers: Iowa, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Stanford
Scouting Report: "I really like King's game. He's a smart and pretty athletic point guard who is really good at getting to the rim and finishing, and he showed that a few times today. It was impressed with him as a defender as well. He plays really hard and is tenacious on the ball.
Eli King exploded in their win over UA Rise, and the Gopher coaching staff took notice and offered the Caledonia two-sport star. He King is really, really good. He has the ball-handling ability to get himself separation and get to the basket. He has a quarterback like feel to him at the point guard position and it just looks like he's in control. King is also a fantastic athlete who gets up to the rim quick, and often. He also uses that athleticism to rebound and defend at a high level. I really like the way he plays the game. He was also comfortable at the two guard when Tamin Lipsey was in with him. He recently slipped into the Rivals150 and I'm not quite sure he's done rising up the rankings." - Connor Stevens from his past weekend in Ames.
His recruitment: King is a two-sport star. He also has football offers from the likes of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, and Missouri. King lives in Caledonia, and has taken an unofficial visit to the Minnesota campus. King will have an interesting recruitment with a plethora of options. Not only will he have a number of schools to choose from, he will also choose between the gridiron and the hardwood.
Our own Connor Stevens was in attendance, and provided up to the minute details on the Inside Gopher Nation message board. He also offered in-depth scouting reports on two of the three players offered: David Joplin and Eli King. D1 will be hosting The Summer Classic next weekend, and Connor will have more on Joel Hurlburt as well as the rest of the roster.
Meanwhile here is a closer look at the three which includes offers, scouting reports and early recruiting summaries.
Joe Hurlburt
Offers: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Dakota, North Dakota State
His Recruitment: Minnesota was the third offer from the Big Ten that
Joe Hurlburt can claim. The 6-foot-10 big man from North Dakota also owns other ones from Iowa and Wisconsin with Colorado being another Power Five program to offer.
Hurlburt has some indirect ties with each program and state. Obviously he plays in the D1 Minnesota organization. So far the Gophers have also offered Kendall Brown, Camden Heide, David Joplin,
Eli King and Elvis Nnaji from D1. Treyton Thomspon also plays for the program and has already committed to Minnesota.
Hurlburt has already taken an unofficial visit to Iowa and his aunt, Cindy Haugjorde, is the all-time leading scorers on the Hawkeyes' women's team.
Wisconsin has a good relationship with the AAU program. Alumni members Nate Reuvers, Tyler Wahl, Ben Carlson and Steven Crowl are now Badgers. The North Dakota native is also being recruited by Joe Krabbenhoft, who is from South Dakota. Matthew Mors willl also be a freshman next season. He is fro South Dakota as well.
When it comes to factors that will go into a decision on down the line, Hurlburt told Jon McNamara of the Badger Blitz, "All the schools that have offered me have been in contact, along with Minnesota, Oregon State, Oregon and few others," Hurlburt said. "I want to have a great relationship with the coaches and then it's about finding a great fit on and off the court. Those will be the most important things for me."
David Joplin
Offers: Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Missouri, UNLV, Valpo, Vanderbilt.
Scouting Report: "Joplin is from Brookfield, Wisconsin and playing for D1 this summer. He had a monster game, I'm not sure on the exact stats but he really impressed me. Great athleticism, good rebounder and even knocked down a few three's. He has eight offers right now, including Depaul, Georgetown, Missouri, and Vanderbilt but I expect that number to go up soon. He was really impressive. Definitely had upwards of 20 points and did it ridiculously efficiently.
Joplin was another name that I mentioned yesterday that got a Gopher offer later in the night. He's a very athletic forward that can dunk everything. His jumpshot needs some work, but the mechanics are there for him to improve. He moves really well for a power forward. I have questions about his handle because he was never really asked to do so on this team, but he moves really well. He's probably more of a four right now, but at 6'7" he looks to be a bit of a 'tweener between the three and four. Ideal if he can become a better ball-handler and move to the three, but I do believe he can have success playing some four in the Big Ten." Connor Stevens from this past weekend in Ames
"A strong-minded forward that can make shots out of the spot-up to 22-feet, though his mechanics are not conventional as he tends to release the ball over his head, it does go in more times than not. He is a powerful athlete that finishes on the break and possesses extended length that he uses well around the basket and to defend near and further away from the rim.
Joplin must tighten his handles and show that he can create better than just the occasional straight-line attack but there is enough evidence that would show that DePaul and Georgetown are ahead of the curve with him. He might not be a star at the high-major level but he is someone that can be plugged into a various spot and also someone that you need in order to win.
He can make shots, defend and does not lack for toughness which equates to a solid three-star prospect and a prospect that high-majors will soon be calling more often." Corey Evans from his past May
His Recruitment - Joplin was listed as one of the breakout performers by Evans that he wanted to see this summer. Even despite the lack of live periods, high major programs have begun to take notice. Since May he has picked up offers from Butler, Minnesota, Missouri, and Vanderbilt. He is hearing from others such as Iowa, Marquette, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
In a recent interview with Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou, Joplin said he will be looking for, "one that believes in me and believes in what I can become. A winning school and a school where i can build good relationships."
Eli King
Offers: Iowa, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Stanford
Scouting Report: "I really like King's game. He's a smart and pretty athletic point guard who is really good at getting to the rim and finishing, and he showed that a few times today. It was impressed with him as a defender as well. He plays really hard and is tenacious on the ball.
Eli King exploded in their win over UA Rise, and the Gopher coaching staff took notice and offered the Caledonia two-sport star. He King is really, really good. He has the ball-handling ability to get himself separation and get to the basket. He has a quarterback like feel to him at the point guard position and it just looks like he's in control. King is also a fantastic athlete who gets up to the rim quick, and often. He also uses that athleticism to rebound and defend at a high level. I really like the way he plays the game. He was also comfortable at the two guard when Tamin Lipsey was in with him. He recently slipped into the Rivals150 and I'm not quite sure he's done rising up the rankings." - Connor Stevens from his past weekend in Ames.
His recruitment: King is a two-sport star. He also has football offers from the likes of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, and Missouri. King lives in Caledonia, and has taken an unofficial visit to the Minnesota campus. King will have an interesting recruitment with a plethora of options. Not only will he have a number of schools to choose from, he will also choose between the gridiron and the hardwood.
