Q&A: Sacar Anim Talks Recruitment After Latest Scholarship Offer From Marquette

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Q&A: Sacar Anim Talks Recruitment After Latest Scholarship Offer From Marquette
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/477828?referrer_id=

Sacar Anim, a senior wing from Minneapolis (MN) DeLaSalle, helped lead the Islanders to their third state Class 3A state title in March as they finished 26-3 last year and won its last 23 games. Anim, who is considered one of the state's top prospects in the Class of 2015, has seen his recruitment pick up recently with an offer from Marquette and several other high major offers expected soon. DeLaSalle is 18-2 with Amin averaging a team-best 25.5 points per game.

The Gophers have three scholarships that have become open since the fall and Amin's strong play could make the Gophers take a closer look. Minnesota signed teammate Jarvis Johnson in the early signing period.

Gopher Hole.com recently caught up with Anim after their 73-61 win over Kimberly at the Border Battle to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: You picked up an offer from Marquette about a week ago. How pleased were you to get that first "high major" offer?

Sacar Anim: I was real pleased. It shows that my hard work is paying off. It is great to hear from some of those bigger programs.

Gopher Hole: It sounds like you might be getting some offers from some other bigger programs like St. John's and Northwestern?

Sacar Anim: Right. I have been talking to the coaches, but for right now, I just have to keep working and take it one day at a time and focus on the games.

Gopher Hole: I know that you have been working hard to improve your game, especially your outside shot. It seems like you are a lot more confident with it and you are having a great senior year. Is that something that you are glad about putting all that work into during the offseason?

Sacar Anim: Definitely glad. It definitely opens up my game a lot because last year and the year before, they would just lay off me, because I didn't have the confidence. Now, I have the confidence. I know I can knock it down. If I hit one, I know that I am going to get rolling and I can do it all night. It definitely has helped my game.

Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to go to any college games recently?

Sacar Anim: No, I haven't, actually.

Gopher Hole: Are you going to try to make some visits to some schools?

Sacar Anim: I am going to try to get down to Marquette in the next two weeks or so.

Gopher Hole: Are you going to wait until season ends to really focus more on your recruitment?

Sacar Anim: Yes. I think that I am just going to wait.

Gopher Hole: I know that in the fall we had talked and you said that you were going to wait until the spring or maybe look into a prep school. Are you glad now that you waited and didn't sign in the early signing period since you are starting to get some bigger looks?

Sacar Anim: That has definitely paid dividends.

Gopher Hole: Are you looking more towards signing and forgetting about the prep school possibility?

Sacar Anim: It is still up in the air. I still only have one offer that I really want, a big Division I offer. I'm still up in the air. I'll really know after I take the Marquette visit and anything else happens. If I like the program, then I'll decide. If not. I'll wait and take it from there.

Gopher Hole: I know that you are happy that you have gotten the offers, but is it ever frustrating that you thought that you should have gotten some better looks before?

Sacar Anim: It is definitely frustrating. I think that I have been playing really well this season, so it is definitely frustrating that I wasn't getting a lot of attention. Now, they are starting to come around and it is a blessing.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the homestate school?

Sacar Anim: Not too much really. I haven't talked to them too much. We went to the Gophers game when they played Rutgers. I talked to them a little bit, but I haven't really had that much conversation.
 


GopherHole Staff said:
Q&A: Sacar Anim Talks Recruitment After Latest Scholarship Offer From Marquette
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/477828?referrer_id=

Sacar Anim, a senior wing from Minneapolis (MN) DeLaSalle, helped lead the Islanders to their third state Class 3A state title in March as they finished 26-3 last year and won its last 23 games. Anim, who is considered one of the state's top prospects in the Class of 2015, has seen his recruitment pick up recently with an offer from Marquette and several other high major offers expected soon. DeLaSalle is 18-2 with Amin averaging a team-best 25.5 points per game.

The Gophers have three scholarships that have become open since the fall and Amin's strong play could make the Gophers take a closer look. Minnesota signed teammate Jarvis Johnson in the early signing period.

Gopher Hole.com recently caught up with Anim after their 73-61 win over Kimberly at the Border Battle to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: You picked up an offer from Marquette about a week ago. How pleased were you to get that first "high major" offer?

Sacar Anim: I was real pleased. It shows that my hard work is paying off. It is great to hear from some of those bigger programs.

Gopher Hole: It sounds like you might be getting some offers from some other bigger programs like St. John's and Northwestern?

Sacar Anim: Right. I have been talking to the coaches, but for right now, I just have to keep working and take it one day at a time and focus on the games.

Gopher Hole: I know that you have been working hard to improve your game, especially your outside shot. It seems like you are a lot more confident with it and you are having a great senior year. Is that something that you are glad about putting all that work into during the offseason?

Sacar Anim: Definitely glad. It definitely opens up my game a lot because last year and the year before, they would just lay off me, because I didn't have the confidence. Now, I have the confidence. I know I can knock it down. If I hit one, I know that I am going to get rolling and I can do it all night. It definitely has helped my game.

Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to go to any college games recently?

Sacar Anim: No, I haven't, actually.

Gopher Hole: Are you going to try to make some visits to some schools?

Sacar Anim: I am going to try to get down to Marquette in the next two weeks or so.

Gopher Hole: Are you going to wait until season ends to really focus more on your recruitment?

Sacar Anim: Yes. I think that I am just going to wait.

Gopher Hole: I know that in the fall we had talked and you said that you were going to wait until the spring or maybe look into a prep school. Are you glad now that you waited and didn't sign in the early signing period since you are starting to get some bigger looks?

Sacar Anim: That has definitely paid dividends.

Gopher Hole: Are you looking more towards signing and forgetting about the prep school possibility?

Sacar Anim: It is still up in the air. I still only have one offer that I really want, a big Division I offer. I'm still up in the air. I'll really know after I take the Marquette visit and anything else happens. If I like the program, then I'll decide. If not. I'll wait and take it from there.

Gopher Hole: I know that you are happy that you have gotten the offers, but is it ever frustrating that you thought that you should have gotten some better looks before?

Sacar Anim: It is definitely frustrating. I think that I have been playing really well this season, so it is definitely frustrating that I wasn't getting a lot of attention. Now, they are starting to come around and it is a blessing.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the homestate school?

Sacar Anim: Not too much really. I haven't talked to them too much. We went to the Gophers game when they played Rutgers. I talked to them a little bit, but I haven't really had that much conversation.
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't we be talking to a home town kid with an offer from Marquette and who is a team mate of Jarvis?
 


We should play follow the leader with recruiting, that makes sense. Because he is from Minnesota and he got an offer from Marquette, he should be an automatic offer. Should we have offered Kevin Noreen after he got an offer from West Virginia? Graham Woodard after he got an offer from Penn State? Sanjay after he got an offer from Northwestern? Getting an offer from a high major school doesn't validate that he is going to be a good college player. He very well could be, but it's not a given because he got his first high major offer.
 


DeathClutch said:
We should play follow the leader with recruiting, that makes sense. Because he is from Minnesota and he got an offer from Marquette, he should be an automatic offer. Should we have offered Kevin Noreen after he got an offer from West Virginia? Graham Woodard after he got an offer from Penn State? Sanjay after he got an offer from Northwestern? Getting an offer from a high major school doesn't validate that he is going to be a good college player. He very well could be, but it's not a given because he got his first high major offer.
Click to expand...

Very good points...Wishful thinking on my part, but I hope the fact that the Gophers are not even talking to Sacar much means that we feel comfortable with hopes of landing our other targets. I'm not surprised Minnesota hasn't offered Sacar yet, but I figured they would have at least been in contact with him on a somewhat-regular basis as a backup plan.
 

DeathClutch said:
We should play follow the leader with recruiting, that makes sense. Because he is from Minnesota and he got an offer from Marquette, he should be an automatic offer. Should we have offered Kevin Noreen after he got an offer from West Virginia? Graham Woodard after he got an offer from Penn State? Sanjay after he got an offer from Northwestern? Getting an offer from a high major school doesn't validate that he is going to be a good college player. He very well could be, but it's not a given because he got his first high major offer.
Click to expand...

You missed part of my point. Your logic is valid except you missed the part of playing with Jarvis. In my mind that should be the biggest reason why it is strange the Gophers have ignored Anim. As Jarvis's teammate, he should have something to do with Jarvis's production. His playing with Jarvis tells someone who hasn't even seen him play that he might be very good. Third, Jarvis himself must occasionally talk up his teammates, especially when coaches show up to watch.
 

And I am not saying they have to offer, can't offer all of Jarvis's teammates. But not even talking to him seems strange.
 

Jigga said:
We are not smart enough to do that...
We'll miss em when he's gone.
Click to expand...


They have room for one guy at that slot. Maybe they have a bigger fish on the hook or one better suited for the Pitino game? Time will tell.
 



macgopher said:
You missed part of my point. Your logic is valid except you missed the part of playing with Jarvis. In my mind that should be the biggest reason why it is strange the Gophers have ignored Anim. As Jarvis's teammate, he should have something to do with Jarvis's production. His playing with Jarvis tells someone who hasn't even seen him play that he might be very good. Third, Jarvis himself must occasionally talk up his teammates, especially when coaches show up to watch.
Click to expand...

There's another way to look at that. Since he plays with Jarvis , the coaching staff has no doubt seen Anim play many times. So , the lack of an offer could mean that they are not convinced he is a good enough fit to offer, at least until they find out where they stand with some of the other kids they are recruiting.
 

DeathClutch said:
We should play follow the leader with recruiting, that makes sense. Because he is from Minnesota and he got an offer from Marquette, he should be an automatic offer. Should we have offered Kevin Noreen after he got an offer from West Virginia? Graham Woodard after he got an offer from Penn State? Sanjay after he got an offer from Northwestern? Getting an offer from a high major school doesn't validate that he is going to be a good college player. He very well could be, but it's not a given because he got his first high major offer.
Click to expand...

It's Marquette! It's Marquette!
 

macgopher said:
You missed part of my point. Your logic is valid except you missed the part of playing with Jarvis. In my mind that should be the biggest reason why it is strange the Gophers have ignored Anim. As Jarvis's teammate, he should have something to do with Jarvis's production. His playing with Jarvis tells someone who hasn't even seen him play that he might be very good. Third, Jarvis himself must occasionally talk up his teammates, especially when coaches show up to watch.
Click to expand...

To me that's telling why they haven't offered. They've seen him over the last couple years more than anyone else. They know his game inside and out. One way or another will find out if we mussed on sacs or not. Or who knows he could still get a late offer
 

I think personally pitino thinks he can get one of the other sf players(Ellison and whomever). Probably thinks they are better fits for big ten basketball. And if that falls through will offer anim as last resort..
.but by then it probably will be too late.
 



We either misevaluated Sacar, or we nailed it... He isn't slipping under the radar.
 

Winasota Gopher said:
We either misevaluated Sacar, or we nailed it... He isn't slipping under the radar.
Click to expand...

Agree......he definetly isn't under the radar in our backyard.
I really believe that they have evaluated him and said they see something that can be exposed.

Not saying he won't be a good D1 basketball player, but my gut feeling is he will be better served going to smaller d1 school where he will be able to thrive.
 


JoshuaT81 said:
Agree......he definetly isn't under the radar in our backyard.
I really believe that they have evaluated him and said they see something that can be exposed.

Not saying he won't be a good D1 basketball player, but my gut feeling is he will be better served going to smaller d1 school where he will be able to thrive.
Click to expand...

You make a valid point with him not being overlooked as he is in our backyard and plays with Jarvis. The better question might be if Pitino thinks he's a fit for his program. Maybe he is D1 quality, and maybe he will blossom into a great player at that level, but that doesn't necessarily make him the right fit. Gotta have faith that Pitino knows what he's doing.
 

25.5 points a game on a "probable" 4-time championship team sounds a winner to me.
More than double what Jarvis is averaging if 'Basketball Hub' is correct (12.6ppg)

Wojo likes him enough, it just sucks losing players to our next door neighbors.

Last year he looked great in the state tourney.
Watched the Pulley team a few times this summer and more than not; he easily (IMO) looked like the best player on the team with Alex and Jarvis (MN's top-2 recruits)
Even with a suspect jump shot which the article indicates he has improved and gained confidence.
 

Jigga said:
25.5 points a game on a "probable" 4-time championship team sounds a winner to me.
More than double what Jarvis is averaging if 'Basketball Hub' is correct (12.6ppg)

Wojo likes him enough, it just sucks losing players to our next door neighbors.

Last year he looked great in the state tourney.
Watched the Pulley team a few times this summer and more than not; he easily (IMO) looked like the best player on the team with Alex and Jarvis (MN's top-2 recruits)
Even with a suspect jump shot which the article indicates he has improved and gained confidence.
Click to expand...

Sacar's ability to score in the paint has been his best asset when I've watched him. While he excels at this in high school, that might not necessarily translate for a 6'4" wing in the B1G. Playing against guys like AJ Hammons, Amir Williams, and Nnanna Egwu are going to make that scoring ability a lot less effective in my opinion. Not saying he can't expand his game (and he already has to a degree), but he becomes a lot less valuable than a guy like Ellison who is 6'6" and can shoot a lot better from the outside than Sacar.
 

Richard said:
Sacar's ability to score in the paint has been his best asset when I've watched him. While he excels at this in high school, that might not necessarily translate for a 6'4" wing in the B1G. Playing against guys like AJ Hammons, Amir Williams, and Nnanna Egwu are going to make that scoring ability a lot less effective in my opinion. Not saying he can't expand his game (and he already has to a degree), but he becomes a lot less valuable than a guy like Ellison who is 6'6" and can shoot a lot better from the outside than Sacar.
Click to expand...

I agree, I think he might struggle in the Big Ten, I'd take Woodard before I took Sacar, almost as athletic, much stronger and more physical, and a good shooter.
 

jovs said:
I agree, I think he might struggle in the Big Ten, I'd take Woodard before I took Sacar, almost as athletic, much stronger and more physical, and a good shooter.
Click to expand...

And a better eye poker than anyone in his class.
 

jovs said:
I agree, I think he might struggle in the Big Ten, I'd take Woodard before I took Sacar, almost as athletic, much stronger and more physical, and a good shooter.
Click to expand...

Woodward only has 2 years of eligibility and usually it takes JUCO kids at least a half season to adjust.
Of course he is stronger he is 3 years older, I havent seen Woodward play since high school but I cant imagine he was anymore physical than Sacar at that age.

I like Sacar, especially if his shooting has improved.
He is scoring double what our coveted recruit JJ is and when I see him he's the best offensively and defensively.

4years of Sacar > 2 years of Woodward.IMHO
 

Jigga said:
4years of Sacar > 2 years of Woodward.IMHO
Click to expand...

Likely not to a coach who will have a very young team next year coming off of his first two seasons in a program without an NCAA Tournament. We will already be welcoming four freshmen, two of which (McBrayer and Nwankwo) that have been described in one fashion or another as needing time to develop. This staff needs players who are ready to contribute as quickly as possible and Pitino probably isn't worried as much right now about years 5/6 of his tenure (when he'd benefit from the two additional years of Anim) as he is years 3/4. If Sacar or other said recruit can contribute more than Woodard in the next two years, then he should try to bring that guy in. If Woodard or another JUCO can contribute even a small amount more in the next two years, then you have to think Pitino would want that. In addition, a JUCO this spring provides some balance to the classes.

Go Gophers!!
 


BleedGopher said:
Likely not to a coach who will have a very young team next year coming off of his first two seasons in a program without an NCAA Tournament. We will already be welcoming four freshmen, two of which (McBrayer and Nwankwo) that have been described in one fashion or another as needing time to develop. This staff needs players who are ready to contribute as quickly as possible and Pitino probably isn't worried as much right now about years 5/6 of his tenure (when he'd benefit from the two additional years of Anim) as he is years 3/4. If Sacar or other said recruit can contribute more than Woodard in the next two years, then he should try to bring that guy in. If Woodard or another JUCO can contribute even a small amount more in the next two years, then you have to think Pitino would want that. In addition, a JUCO this spring provides some balance to the classes.

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...


You have some very strong points.
I still think because of that adjustment period with JUCO transfers, we have about 1 1/2 seasons with Woody.

I just think Sacar is gonna be a stud so I'm a bit biased. Still like Sacar more.
'If' Lofton comes back that would help balance classes.. 'If'
 

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