BleedGopher
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per this update from Marcus:
Jim Jackson impressed by Cobbs this summer
By Marcus Fuller
Gophers incoming freshman point guard Justin Cobbs had a chance to play against NBA players in pickup games at UCLA while he was back home this summer.
Big Ten Network analyst and former Ohio State All-American Jim Jackson watched Cobbs hold his own in several of those games. Jackson was there because he wanted his son Traevon to also hone his game in a supremely competitive environment.
"I had a chance to see him, and I was impressed," Jackson said of Cobbs. "For what (Gophers coach) Tubby (Smith) wants to do and is searching for in a point guard, Justin has a lot of those qualities and attributes. He's strong. He's quick. He's athletic. He has a nice jump shot right now.
"Once he starts playing defense and making plays for his teammates, he's going to be a great addition. Tubby has a nice little project that he can work with."
Jackson said Cobbs consistently made plays defending and penetrating against NBA point guards such as Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Earl Watson of the Indiana Pacers and Marcus Williams of the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It gave Justin a really good feel," he said. "Against that kind of competition, you can see where you're at. I think his athleticism stands out. When you compare him to a lot of other point guards, he's physically strong and can really do a lot with his body."
Junior Al Nolen is expected to start going into the season for the Gophers at point guard, but Jackson said Cobbs will push him for the job.
"I think he can (start)," he said. "The question is going to come down to how he shoots the basketball. One of Nolen's weaknesses right now is shooting the basketball well enough at the point guard position. If Justin can not turn the basketball over, make plays and knock down the open shot, that gives you a different dimension at point guard. Now, you don't help out and sag as much in the lane. It just depends. The door is open for him to make a run at it."
-- Jackson's son is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior shooting guard from Westerville, Ohio. Jackson said the Gophers watched Traevon play during an AAU tournament in Florida, but he was getting offers from mostly mid-major schools.
-- The Gophers have made the final cut for 6-11 Nebraska center Elliott Eliason, who plans to visit Minnesota on Sept. 11, according to reports. Eliason has narrowed his list down to Minnesota, Stanford and Creighton.
"I think that all three schools share some characteristics," Eliason told CardinalReport.com. "Academically, they each have a lot to offer. All three have great coaching staffs and great people at the school. I think those are the things that are important to me, and all three have them. It's not to say that the other schools didn't have those things, but these three stood out."
Go Gophers!!
Jim Jackson impressed by Cobbs this summer
By Marcus Fuller
Gophers incoming freshman point guard Justin Cobbs had a chance to play against NBA players in pickup games at UCLA while he was back home this summer.
Big Ten Network analyst and former Ohio State All-American Jim Jackson watched Cobbs hold his own in several of those games. Jackson was there because he wanted his son Traevon to also hone his game in a supremely competitive environment.
"I had a chance to see him, and I was impressed," Jackson said of Cobbs. "For what (Gophers coach) Tubby (Smith) wants to do and is searching for in a point guard, Justin has a lot of those qualities and attributes. He's strong. He's quick. He's athletic. He has a nice jump shot right now.
"Once he starts playing defense and making plays for his teammates, he's going to be a great addition. Tubby has a nice little project that he can work with."
Jackson said Cobbs consistently made plays defending and penetrating against NBA point guards such as Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Earl Watson of the Indiana Pacers and Marcus Williams of the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It gave Justin a really good feel," he said. "Against that kind of competition, you can see where you're at. I think his athleticism stands out. When you compare him to a lot of other point guards, he's physically strong and can really do a lot with his body."
Junior Al Nolen is expected to start going into the season for the Gophers at point guard, but Jackson said Cobbs will push him for the job.
"I think he can (start)," he said. "The question is going to come down to how he shoots the basketball. One of Nolen's weaknesses right now is shooting the basketball well enough at the point guard position. If Justin can not turn the basketball over, make plays and knock down the open shot, that gives you a different dimension at point guard. Now, you don't help out and sag as much in the lane. It just depends. The door is open for him to make a run at it."
-- Jackson's son is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior shooting guard from Westerville, Ohio. Jackson said the Gophers watched Traevon play during an AAU tournament in Florida, but he was getting offers from mostly mid-major schools.
-- The Gophers have made the final cut for 6-11 Nebraska center Elliott Eliason, who plans to visit Minnesota on Sept. 11, according to reports. Eliason has narrowed his list down to Minnesota, Stanford and Creighton.
"I think that all three schools share some characteristics," Eliason told CardinalReport.com. "Academically, they each have a lot to offer. All three have great coaching staffs and great people at the school. I think those are the things that are important to me, and all three have them. It's not to say that the other schools didn't have those things, but these three stood out."
Go Gophers!!
