The Gophers are recruiting both Jarvis Johnson and Sacar Anim.
Sacar Anim, a junior wing from Minneapolis (MN) De La Salle, helped lead the Islanders to their third state Class 3A state title in March. Anim, who is considered one of the state’s top prospects in the Class of 2015, is starting for the second straight season for the Howard Pulley AAU team.
Gopher Hole.com caught up with Anim team to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment? What schools are you hearing from right now?
Sacar Anim: Creighton, Dayton, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northwestern. That is about it.
Gopher Hole: What offers do you have right now? I know that Northern Iowa offered. Do you have any other offers besides them?
Sacar Anim: Lehigh and Drake.
Gopher Hole: I have watched you play quite a few times and you have a reputation as a slasher and someone who is really good at going to the hoops, but it seems like you have been really working on your outside shot. Is that something that you have been really trying to focus on this offseason?
Sacar Anim: Definitely. Just getting up a lot of shots every day. Trying to improve my range out, so that way I can have an all-around game that way people will have to respect me. I have been really working on that and I really improved that part of my game.
Gopher Hole: Teams know that you are such a good slasher that you are going to have defenders maybe back off you because they know that you can take the ball to the hoop. Is that something that you have noticed that you can get that open look?
Sacar Anim: Definitely, I definitely noticed that now. When they are playing off, I am definitely going to pull it.
Gopher Hole: You had a lot of coaches watching this past weekend playing in the EYBL event in Sacramento. Do you ever notice those coaches or do you try not to focus on them? Or is hard not to sometimes?
Sacar Anim: It sometimes hard not to, but it is extra motivation, so it is not really anything to pay attention to, but it is extra motivation to go out there and even play harder.
Gopher Hole: You have some players like yourself back for Pulley like Jarvis Johnson, Joe Rosga and Sam Neumann, but you also have some new players. Has it been easy to get the team chemistry going so far?
Sacar Anim: We are still a work in progress, I would say. The first game, we played particularly well, but it is still a work in progress, our first tournament. Now we are trying to figure things out on the offensive end. We are playing great defense, but on the offensive end, just getting chemistry. Knowing what guys are going to do. Spacing and floor movement. Cutting and all that stuff. We’ll get there though.
Gopher Hole: De La Salle has won three straight titles and you have been a key contributor the past two seasons. What would it mean to try to win another title?
Sacar Anim: It would mean everything. Just to four-peat. It’s rarely been done. I can’t remember the last time it was done. Patrick Henry,maybe. It would be great. To bring that back, a four-peat that has never been done.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, you lose some key players like Geno Crandall, Reid Travis and some others. You and Jarvis are going to be asked to be more of a leader this season. Is that something you are looking forward to?
Sacar Anim: Definitely. It is definitely the way for us. It is my time. It is my senior year. Time to step up and bring it back. It is something that I am looking forward to.
Gopher Hole: You mentioned the hometown team, Minnesota and they have an assistant who is very familiar at DeLeSalle, Ben Johnson, who played there. What are you hearing from the Gophers right now?
Sacar Anim: I talk to Coach Johnson quite often. The De La Salle connection really helps out a lot. I talk to him quite often. We went up to some games. That really helps out a lot, talking to him and having great chemistry with the coaches.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to watch them much or go to some games this season?
Sacar Anim: Yes, I did. I went to the Wisconsin game. I went to the game against Lehigh. I went to two others.
Gopher Hole: What was the atmosphere like especially the Wisconsin game, which is a big rivalry game and they won?
Sacar Anim: It was great. Just the crowd and the way that they get into it. I love that “The Barn” is a little bit smaller, louder. The fans get into it. They really support it. I love it. I love “the Barn.” Great atmosphere.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to maybe have the opportunity to play for the home state school?
Sacar Anim: It would mean everything. Just being able to stay home and just have the chance to stay home and play for my home team. It would mean a lot to me.
Gopher Hole: I know that your dad was a player, too. Is that where you got the love of the game from him?
Sacar Anim: Definitely. My brother played also, so I have been going to tournament since I was young’un Just growing up around the basketball game. It is just a game that I love. It is one of my loves. I just adopted it.