Schilling is hearing from many of the top Midwest schools, including Minnesota and will be playing in the Nike EYBL event April 20-22 in Eagan.
Gavin Schilling, a 6-foot-9, 228-pound junior forward from Chicago (IL) DeLaSalle, is one of the top players in a loaded Class of 2013 big man from Illinois. Schilling is hearing from many of the top Midwest schools, including Minnesota and will be playing in the Nike EYBL event April 20-22 in Eagan. GopherHole.com recently caught up with Schilling to learn the latest on his recruitment and summer plans.
Schilling led the Meteors to a 17-7 marl, losing to Bogan in the Class 4A Mount Carmel regional title game 79-63, despite Alvin Ellis, a 6-foot-3 junior, finishing with a career-high 42 points.
Gopher Hole: You had a very good season. How pleased were you with how things went this year?
Gavin Schilling: I think that we played very well. We played together throughout most of the season. Unfortunately, at the end, we lost in the regionals and my ankle got injured. But, I think that we did well just getting through the whole season together as a whole team.
Gopher Hole: how about your own individual play? How do you feel that you played this year?
Gavin Schilling: I felt that I played pretty good. I could have played better, but I am pretty satisfied with the way I played. I am going to come back stronger next season and help the team get further in the playoffs.
Gopher Hole: What did you average this past season?
Gavin Schilling: I think that I averaged right around 15 (points) and ten or eleven (rebounds).
Gopher Hole: There are going to be high expectations next season with you and Alex Foster (who is also getting Minnesota looks) coming back next year. Have you guys talked with Alex and some of your other teammates about what your goals are for next year?
Gavin Schilling: Oh, yes. Our goal every year is to win state like every other team. I think, just to come back and be ready for the season stronger, physically and mentally. We have to take it seriously and play well and together like we did last year, but even better.
Gopher Hole: There is a lot of talent in the Chicago area with you two, Jabari Parker of Simeon and Jahlil Okafor of Whitney Young. There is a lot of competition. Do you like playing that type of competition because it helps make you a better player?
Gavin Schilling: Oh, definitely. Jabari and Jahlil will be playing with the (Mac Irvin) Fire this summer and we’ll be seeing them a lot. Playing with other challenging guys always makes me better. I like that. That is the reason I love Chicago. All the good players are stacked in one city, which is great.
Gopher Hole: Are you going to maybe say something to Jabari because he has won three state titles. Are you going tell him that he has enough and should let someone else win?
Gavin Schilling: Yes. I am very proud that he has won three straight. I am definitely going to mess around with him a little bit.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Gavin Schilling: Definitely, my all-around game. I continue working on it every day and getting stronger physically. My post moves. Ballhandling. My shot. There is nothing that I can’t work at.
Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a player?
Gavin Schilling: Definitely, running the floor. I run the floor very well for my height. Rebounding and that I can take a guy face up in the post and use my moves there.
Gopher Hole: How long were you in Germany?
Gavin Schilling: I was over there for just one year. My sophomore year. I was born there and my dad is German.
Gopher Hole: What was that experience like spending your sophomore year over there?
Gavin Schilling: I was definitely a great experience. I learned a lot over there, mentally and skill-wise. I learned more about the game and a lot more about defense. That what is what they really preach over there, defense and getting my shot better.
Gopher Hole: What was the competition level like over there?
Gavin Schilling: It was definitely different than the U.S. It was a little more slow-paced. It was more based on the fundamentals.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on colleges you are hearing from right now?
Gavin Schilling: The latest two to recruit me are Virginia and Michigan State. I am excited about that.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now? Do you still keep track or is it getting harder?
Gavin Schilling: It is getting pretty hard. I have eight offers. Illinois, DePaul, Oregon State, Minnesota, Providence, USC and TCU.
Gopher Hole: You went to the Wisconsin-Ohio State game at Madison. Did you get a chance to go to many college games this year?
Gopher Hole: You went to the Wisconsin-Ohio State game at Madison. Did you get a chance to go to many college games this year?
Gavin Schilling: I got a chance to go to that one, but that was the only one. I went to some of the colleges at the beginning of the year, but that was for football games. That was the only basketball games that I saw live this year.
Gopher Hole: What was that atmosphere like?
Gavin Schilling: It was great. All the fans created a great atmosphere. They were wearing the same colors. To be a part of that was a great honor. They were playing at such a high college level. I am grateful for that.
Gopher Hole: Wisconsin has not offered you yet, have they?
Gavin Schilling: Not yet. I have been talking to Coach Paris. He is one of the assistant coaches.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Gavin Schilling: One of the assistants came to our practice during the season and we talked there. I have talked on the phone a little bit to Coach Smith.
Gopher Hole: You are playing hear next month in a EYBL event. Would you even try to check out the campus when you are in town?
Gavin Schilling: Maybe. It might be a possibility, but I want to focus on playing the game when I am there. I don’t know yet.
Gopher Hole: You broke your wrist last year. How much AAU basketball did you get to play?
Gavin Schilling: I broke my wrist in June playing at the DePaul Attack Center in a league of the public school teams before the AAU summer season started. I didn’t get a chance to play AAU last summer. I got a chance to play freshman year with the Chi-Town Diablos, so I have a taste of the AAU circuit.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think that will help you, not only playing against other good teams, but practicing with and against Jabari and Jahlil, is going to help you as a player?
Gavin Schilling: Every day in practice, we all go very hard at it. Competing against each other makes us better at every practice. That is one of the reasons, I choose to play with the Fire, because you get all the challenge of playing with them and same with them. I am challenging them and visa versa. That is the good thing about it.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about what you might major in at college?
Gavin Schilling: Not really. Maybe somewhere in the area of literature or business is what I am leaning more towards. I don’t really have any specific topic or subjects.
Gopher Hole: What is going to be the main thing that makes you pick School A over School B and C?
Gavin Schilling: Definitely, a great academic program. A great coaching staff and how well I get along and fit in with the whole team. The system that they run and all that kind of stuff that I really want to look into and see what best fits me.