All Things 2023 Gophers Basketball Recruiting Thread


After watching a small sample of tape on Evans and watching PP, I can see them on the floor together. IMO, as they appear to be more athletic/versatile than Williams/Edney and provide more options on offense. But as you stated, skills would need to be developed.

For discussion purposes, I would implement a double low post offense similar to this: https://www.coachesclipboard.net/MascotMotionOffense.html or . Evans 5 and PP 4 or reverse them. It allows for ball movement, good spacing, motion, screens and options for a hi/low post and allow two bigs to be in close proximity for offense boards. Plus this would utilize Battle's skill set and possibly Garcia and Fox/Ihnen. But Ben would have to revamp his current "offense" philosophy for what it is worth.

After watching the attached links, I see very little of this type of motion and sets from Ben. Take a look Ben, you may learn something!! ;):)

Thoughts??
Ben runs a 4 out 1 in motion offense.
 
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247sports has Evans as a 4 star not a 5. However the Gopher are ahead of the Badger to date in their rankings.
 

247sports has Evans as a 4 star not a 5. However the Gopher are ahead of the Badger to date in their rankings.
Until they figure out a way to include portal players in rankings, class rankings will mean almost nothing. I don’t follow closely enough to know if some services are doing that but I doubt it. Seems like a lot of work in a short time and pretty hard to do.
 



Since Kayden Betts was a 2023 commit that reclassified, enrolled early and is redshirting this year, I am bumping this up to see if some with knowledge of how is doing can share with us how he has progressed, what can we expect next season, where does he fit in, how does he look in practice (albeit against our current team, but we used to hear reports about how strong Marcus Carr looked when he was sitting his transfer year)?

Any one with an update on Kayden Betts? He seems to be the forgotten piece of the original ‘23 class
 


Ben should research the top high school scorer in every state and offer them. I don't care if they play A level. The game of basketball is about SHOOTING the ball through the hoop. Running fast and jumping high doesn't win games.
Before I die I'd like to see a Gopher team with 3 or 4 players that can fill it up!
 
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Ben should research the top high school scorer in every state and offer them. I don't care if they play A level. The game of basketball is about SHOOTING the ball through the hoop. Running fast and jumping high doesn't win games.
Before I die I'd like to see a Gopher team with 3 or 4 players that can fill it up!
🤔
 



Ben should research the top high school scorer in every state and offer them. I don't care if they play A level. The game of basketball is about SHOOTING the ball through the hoop. Running fast and jumping high doesn't win games.
Before I die I'd like to see a Gopher team with 3 or 4 players that can fill it up!
This is what makes college basketball recruiting so tough. Phi jamma slamma changed the perspective that shooting was most important. I think it is a hybrid now and the top programs get the guys that are athletic and shooters. Unfortunately it's tough for the Gophers to get these guys.
 



Previous Gopher recruiting targets Andrej Stojakovic and Elmarko Jackson were selected as McDonald’s All-Americans. Also idk where he was ranked before, but Dennis Evans is at #95 on ESPN.
 



Ben should research the top high school scorer in every state and offer them. I don't care if they play A level. The game of basketball is about SHOOTING the ball through the hoop. Running fast and jumping high doesn't win games.
Before I die I'd like to see a Gopher team with 3 or 4 players that can fill it up!
How long you got left?
 


Great players. Neither have 7' 7" wingspans like super freak Dennis Evans, AKA the Octapus.

Randy Moss wasn't a McDonald's All-American either
I actually think he is going to be very good. Next year might be a little early considering his build but he has a lot of potential and was a great get for Ben. For this program- any top 100 guy is.
 

Previous Gopher recruiting targets Andrej Stojakovic and Elmarko Jackson were selected as McDonald’s All-Americans. Also idk where he was ranked before, but Dennis Evans is at #95 on ESPN.

247 has him ranked #38.

Is it typical to see such a wide disparity across rankings? Don't they all see the same Octopus?
 


247 has him ranked #38.

Is it typical to see such a wide disparity across rankings? Don't they all see the same Octopus?
247 has him at #38 in the composite; he’s like #18 in their own rankings, #11 on Rivals, but #95 on ESPN and somewhere in the 80’s on On3. Weird disparity between them. I’ve heard ESPN rankings can be lousy though, that they just don’t put the same amount of time and effort into evaluating players that the other services do, and I heard it long before I even knew who Dennis Evans was, before someone accuses me of cherry picking rankings.
 


How hard did we go after Boden Kapke? Looks like a player we could use.....seems to really be getting better as he gets older.....
 

How hard did we go after Boden Kapke? Looks like a player we could use.....seems to really be getting better as he gets older.....
Not hard. Thought they were getting both Winter and Evans at the time of his commitment. I don't think Winter/Kapke would be a good combo in the frontcourt much like I don't think Winter/Yalden will be great together for Wisconsin. Need some more foot speed or shot blocking. Not saying those guys won't be good players, just that playing them together isn't ideal.
 

I'm sure he's likely to follow Shrewsberry to ND but if he decides he doesn't like South Bend, Colorado native with a Gopher offer and interest Carey Booth could be available from the Penn State recruiting class.
 

I'm sure he's likely to follow Shrewsberry to ND but if he decides he doesn't like South Bend, Colorado native with a Gopher offer and interest Carey Booth could be available from the Penn State recruiting class.
well, we're owed a Booth. his sister, Carter Booth, left Minnesota VBall (for Wisconsin) after her freshman year (the past vball season)
 

well, we're owed a Booth. his sister, Carter Booth, left Minnesota VBall (for Wisconsin) after her freshman year (the past vball season)
Carey is a Penn State basketball legacy (the Booth kids' father is former NBAer Calvin Booth) so it would also seem possible he sticks with them if he likes the new coach well enough.
 









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