This is almost all review, but I thought it would be good to place recruits into groups for everyone now that Gabe Kalscheur is committed. The plan is to take the best player available with the fourth spot with a strong preference on getting a ball handling guard.
The ball handling guards (big targets)
The ball handling guards (big targets)
- Tre Jones: Tre is of course a huge target but right now Duke is the heavy favorite.
- Eric Hunter: Long-time target. You guys know the story here. Hunter is a scoring four-star combo guard from Indianapolis. Purdue and Butler lead but Minnesota is on track to get an official visit, so I think they're a contender.
- Marcus Zegarowski: Zegarowski is a high IQ court general that's a playmaker and excellent shooter. He's been very productive with Expressions Elite on the Nike circuit. Kimani Young has known his father for years so the Gophers have an in there, but I don't think Minnesota necessarily leads, and I don't think he really has a top group yet. Lots of high-majors on him.
- AJ Green: Strong Northern Iowa favorite. If he takes another visit to Minnesota, which I don't anticipate, maybe things will change. Minnesota is probably No. 3 right now behind Northern Iowa and Iowa State with Clemson and Nebraska also in the conversation.
- Josh LeBlanc: LSU, Texas A&M, and Georgetown are considered favorites. I believe Minnesota still keeps in contact so they could work their way into being a contender if they can get an official visit. LeBlanc is not a ball handling guard but he'd fit very well with Minnesota.
- Jared Butler: Somewhat similar to LeBlanc, Butler seems to be focused on mostly regional schools but the Gophers still talk to him and an official visit is possible.
- Nate Hinton: His grouping (big targets or wings to forget about) depends on how good of a ball handler he is. I've talked to a couple people about whether or not he can be a combo guard and answers have varied. Here's a quote Corey Evans gave me: "Nate is an electric athlete and one of the most competitive players in his 2018 graduating class. He has improved both as a shooter and playmaker which gives him extreme position versatility at the next level where he can develop as a one, two or three." I'll be watching him in Vegas.
- Jeenathan Williams: Williams is a wing who's stats and body type suggest that he could also play some 4. He's not a ball handling guard but is good enough that I'd imagine Minnesota will stay in frequent contact with him. Minnesota along with other similar level high-majors have been in touch. I'm not sure how committable the Syracuse offer is.
- Joe Hedstrom: Hedstrom is from Hopkins and plays for MN Comets. He has good touch and has been excellent for the Comets. Minnesota, Creighton, and Wisconsin have watched him the past two weekends.
- Tyrese Martin: Shooting guard that Minnesota has been in contact with but not quite as frequently as others. The interest seems to be lukewarm.
- Keyontae Johnson: Minnesota's been in contact with him a couple times a week, but he's not a ball handling guard so that puts his status a little up in the air. His recruitment is also on hold until his father gets back from abroad.
- Aaron Nesmith: Recent offer but the offer came before Kalscheur committed, and Nesmith isn't a ball handling guard. Conroy is watching him in Orlando.
- Souleymane Koureissi: Not a ball handling guard
- Tyrese Martin: Shooting guard that Minnesota has been in contact with but not quite as frequently as others. The interest seems to be lukewarm.
- Jaylen Sims: Little interest from Minnesota
- Brendan Adams: Adams is a shooter and the Gophers already got that in this class in Gabe Kalscheur.
- Jake Forrester: Forrester has not listed Minnesota recently to me or others.
