All Things 2023 Gophers Basketball Recruiting Thread


Not the best athlete? I completely disagree. I am also not sure what you mean by his jump shot release being low. I don't see that. I've officiated a few of his games this year so I have a different perspective. Last night he lost the opening tip and he hustled his tail off and blocked what would have been an easy lay-up to start the game. This kid can dribble the ball, he can shoot, he has a soft touch around the rim, he never quits on plays, he never complains about calls, he dives for loose balls, he picks up his teammates. I hope he stays home!
I mean fair enough. Maybe you get a different perspective from watching him in-person... I can only speak from the very limited film I saw. I'd like to emphasize that there's a very distinct difference from being a B1G-caliber athlete and being a better athlete than the rest of the high schoolers on the court.

Completely disagree about his jump shot though. It could use some work. But from it sounds like he's a hard worker and a great teammate, so if he's a depth signing I have no problem with CBJ extending him an offer to keep him home.

Would love to see the kid prove me wrong!
 

I would be surprised if they took both Winter and Kapke. Maybe they can incentivize by taking the first one to commit? Holy Family doesn't play as tough a schedule as Lakeville North, but they (staff) no doubt saw what they needed to see last summer and offered both. Trouble is you don't REALLY know who will be the better player, until you see them against top competition again this coming summer....and maybe not even then!
 

I would be surprised if they took both Winter and Kapke. Maybe they can incentivize by taking the first one to commit? Holy Family doesn't play as tough a schedule as Lakeville North, but they (staff) no doubt saw what they needed to see last summer and offered both. Trouble is you don't REALLY know who will be the better player, until you see them against top competition again this coming summer....and maybe not even then!
They would take both in a heartbeat….sort out the talent later….
 




Holy Family Junior Big Man Boden Kapke Talks Recruiting, Gophers Offer​

By Chris Monter

 

Unofficial for Northwestern game on Feb. 19 by Class of '23 Isaiah Chappell from Santa Monica, CA. No offer from MN or others.

 
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I would be surprised if they took both Winter and Kapke. Maybe they can incentivize by taking the first one to commit? Holy Family doesn't play as tough a schedule as Lakeville North, but they (staff) no doubt saw what they needed to see last summer and offered both. Trouble is you don't REALLY know who will be the better player, until you see them against top competition again this coming summer....and maybe not even then!
I think Milan Momcilovic from Wisconsin was on campus again recently as well, and least currently I believe he’s the highest rated of the bigs we’re after, and maybe the highest ranked 2023 recruit period after Chatman.
 



Unofficial for Northwestern game on Feb. 19 by Class of '23 Isaiah Chappell from Santa Monica, CA. No offer from MN or others.

Pretty smart kid. Just looked on 247 and Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford are interested.
 







They would take both in a heartbeat….sort out the talent later….
Honestly, Minnesota 2023 class isn't that good. Winter and Kapke has great size. Chatman is the real deal but pass that Ben shouldn't offer any more. I don't think it would be smart to take both. They can play together but neither is great defensively. Winter is slow and can't guard. Kapke is foul-prone. Kapke is the better rebounder of the two, but Winter is way more skilled
 

Honestly, Minnesota 2023 class isn't that good. Winter and Kapke has great size. Chatman is the real deal but pass that Ben shouldn't offer any more. I don't think it would be smart to take both. They can play together but neither is great defensively. Winter is slow and can't guard. Kapke is foul-prone. Kapke is the better rebounder of the two, but Winter is way more skilled
While I understand you have more inside info and knowledge than I do, these players are 2023 recruiting targets. Let’s just see where they actually get to in the next year and a half. Give them a chance to grow into their bodies, who knows, they may improve by leaps and bounds. I can speak from experience my first year at college I became a way better player than I was in high school. Put on some weight and added strength. Added a slash part to my game which my high school coach stifled. Right now you are probably correct as you see them but even 1 year down the road can make differences. Part of recruiting is a bit of guessing, have to look where you might think someone will be in a year or two. You will miss on some, especially the kids who aren‘t bonified stars. Some of those 3 stars grow to be 5 stars.
 

While I understand you have more inside info and knowledge than I do, these players are 2023 recruiting targets. Let’s just see where they actually get to in the next year and a half. Give them a chance to grow into their bodies, who knows, they may improve by leaps and bounds. I can speak from experience my first year at college I became a way better player than I was in high school. Put on some weight and added strength. Added a slash part to my game which my high school coach stifled. Right now you are probably correct as you see them but even 1 year down the road can make differences. Part of recruiting is a bit of guessing, have to look where you might think someone will be in a year or two. You will miss on some, especially the kids who aren‘t bonified stars. Some of those 3 stars grow to be 5 stars.
I get what you're saying I guess my point is we can't get stuck on wanting to take kids because they are MN kids. There have been a lot of talent in MN recently but the next 2 classes don't have as much apparent depth as the last few years. Hopefully we can start pulling in 4 stars from other states. Ben has done a good job spotting diamonds & offering before their recruitment blew up. Hopefully we can get a couple of those kids as well
 



Honestly, Minnesota 2023 class isn't that good. Winter and Kapke has great size. Chatman is the real deal but pass that Ben shouldn't offer any more. I don't think it would be smart to take both. They can play together but neither is great defensively. Winter is slow and can't guard. Kapke is foul-prone. Kapke is the better rebounder of the two, but Winter is way more skilled
What about Patrick Bath?
 

Lol. Looks like 19 of the top 100 players in the 2023 class are committed somewhere right now. It's very early.
On plus side we're tied with Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan, Rutgers, Wisconsin
 

I thought I heard the staff preferred Jarvis Omersa to Race Thompson, and they probably wouldn’t have taken both. Pitino did get Amir Coffey, and Dain Dainja had academic concerns. Jericho Sims was also a legacy recruit I think, but Pitino did get Oturu the next year.
Dainja is doing well academically and has shed 20 pounds in the conditioning program. Super talented kid.
 

I thought I heard the staff preferred Jarvis Omersa to Race Thompson, and they probably wouldn’t have taken both. Pitino did get Amir Coffey, and Dain Dainja had academic concerns. Jericho Sims was also a legacy recruit I think, but Pitino did get Oturu the next year.
That would be a criminal offense if this staff wanted Jarvis over Race. That being said Race wasn’t a fan of Pitino and wasn’t coming here with him there anyways.
 




Yeah he’s gotta take a big jump. Honestly seeing guys like Loge and Lee’s offers he may not get mid major even.
Seeing Bath and Lee play this winter, Bath seems to be the stronger player already. Give him a summer and another year of development and he should be well ahead of Lee. That doesn't mean a lot of major offers, but he has size and it just takes one offer.
 

Just read an article on the Nebraska board about a kid from Colorado, Kayden Betts. He apparently is blowing up. He had a great high school season and starting off well in the AAU season. He is supposedly trying to set up a visit to Minnesota this summer. Interest from Minnesota, Nebraska, Butler, Iowa st, Colorado, BYU, Air Force and Utah. Offers from Colorado St and Wyoming. 6-8, 210#, 7-2 wingspan. Ben watched him play this week.
 
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Just read an article on the Nebraska board about a kid from Colorado, Kayden Betts. He apparently is blowing up. He had a great high school season and starting off well in the AAU season. He is supposedly trying to set up a visit to Minnesota this summer. Interest from Minnesota, Nebraska, Butler, Iowa st, Colorado, BYU and Utah. Offers from Colorado St and Wyoming. 6-8, 210#, 7-2 wingspan.
 





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