The Under Armour Challenge in Cartersville, Georgia was the perfect time for the Minnesota staff to watch a couple of 2020 prospects that it has offered such as Jalen Suggs, Dain Dainja, and Ty Berry.
But it was also an advantageous setting to identify new 2019 players that were appealing enough to extend offers to. Richard Pitino and company saw enough of Yavuz Gultekin to give him their latest scholarship invite Monday.
The 6-foot-8 wing played last week with the Mid Atlantic Select out of Maryland. Gultekin also attends John Carroll School via way of Turkey.
The Select went an impressive 4-1 for the week, and Gultekin was a big reason for the success. He averaged 12.5 points per game, but if the numbers were adjusted for a complete 32-minute performance, they would have come out to 24.3 per outing.
Gultekin shot an impressive 65.4 percent from the field. 24 of his 26 field goal attempts were from inside the arc, but when he did attempt a 3-pointer, he shot 100 percent, converting both tries. He also took advantage of putting the ball on the floor by getting to the line 15 times throughout the tournament, and making 14, for a 93.3 percent clip.
The outing was good enough to not only pick up a Minnesota offer within 72 hours of the tournaments conclusion, but to gain three more from George Washington, Nebraska, and TCU. Those trio joins DePaul, St. Joseph's, Penn State, George Mason, Kansas State, and Old Dominion.
Gultekin has taken unofficial visits to Maryland, Georgetown, Villanova, and St. Joseph's.
Yavuz is an athletic, long wing," James Lee of the Mid-Atlantic Select told us Tuesday afternoon. "He is skilled and he plays hard. He is the ultimate gym rat, and he has a great motor."
When asked if there is a certain way Gultekin gets the ball in the hole, Lee answered, "He is versatile. He can handle it. He can shoot the three and also get to the bucket. He also has a good post up game."
That high level of versatility is what impressed the Minnesota coaching staff according to Lee.
"Coach (Kyle) Lindsted checked him out at the last Under Armour event. Their interest grew from there as they watched him and they offered."
Lee added that Gultekin is "intrigued by Minnesota, and he wants to see how it goes from here. The coaches there like his versatility and competitiveness."
The recruiting process is still early for Gultekin, and Lee says narrowing down a list and taking official visits haven't even entered his mind yet. There is also the realization that interest from schools could turn into future offers. Lee says Northwestern, Villanova, South Florida, and LSU are in contact.
Gultekin will certainly have the opportunity to play in front of more college coaches this month. Mid-Atlantic Select will play in the Super Showcase in Orlando, the Big Apple Showcase in New York City, and the Summer Showdown in Philadelphia.
But it was also an advantageous setting to identify new 2019 players that were appealing enough to extend offers to. Richard Pitino and company saw enough of Yavuz Gultekin to give him their latest scholarship invite Monday.
The 6-foot-8 wing played last week with the Mid Atlantic Select out of Maryland. Gultekin also attends John Carroll School via way of Turkey.
The Select went an impressive 4-1 for the week, and Gultekin was a big reason for the success. He averaged 12.5 points per game, but if the numbers were adjusted for a complete 32-minute performance, they would have come out to 24.3 per outing.
Gultekin shot an impressive 65.4 percent from the field. 24 of his 26 field goal attempts were from inside the arc, but when he did attempt a 3-pointer, he shot 100 percent, converting both tries. He also took advantage of putting the ball on the floor by getting to the line 15 times throughout the tournament, and making 14, for a 93.3 percent clip.
The outing was good enough to not only pick up a Minnesota offer within 72 hours of the tournaments conclusion, but to gain three more from George Washington, Nebraska, and TCU. Those trio joins DePaul, St. Joseph's, Penn State, George Mason, Kansas State, and Old Dominion.
Gultekin has taken unofficial visits to Maryland, Georgetown, Villanova, and St. Joseph's.
Yavuz is an athletic, long wing," James Lee of the Mid-Atlantic Select told us Tuesday afternoon. "He is skilled and he plays hard. He is the ultimate gym rat, and he has a great motor."
When asked if there is a certain way Gultekin gets the ball in the hole, Lee answered, "He is versatile. He can handle it. He can shoot the three and also get to the bucket. He also has a good post up game."
That high level of versatility is what impressed the Minnesota coaching staff according to Lee.
"Coach (Kyle) Lindsted checked him out at the last Under Armour event. Their interest grew from there as they watched him and they offered."
Lee added that Gultekin is "intrigued by Minnesota, and he wants to see how it goes from here. The coaches there like his versatility and competitiveness."
The recruiting process is still early for Gultekin, and Lee says narrowing down a list and taking official visits haven't even entered his mind yet. There is also the realization that interest from schools could turn into future offers. Lee says Northwestern, Villanova, South Florida, and LSU are in contact.
Gultekin will certainly have the opportunity to play in front of more college coaches this month. Mid-Atlantic Select will play in the Super Showcase in Orlando, the Big Apple Showcase in New York City, and the Summer Showdown in Philadelphia.
