Q&A with Gavin Schilling - "Coach Smith is a real nice guy."
Q: How do you think your season with Findlay Prep is going?
A: It’s going real well. We finished the regular season 34-0. We have an upcoming tournament in DC (Ed. Note: He continued to talk about the post-season, but it became very staticky.)
Q: Do you talk much with Alvin Ellis or Alex Foster?
A: Yeah, I still talk with them. Me and Alvin text a lot. Last week I went home before I took visits, and I saw him and we hung out. I text Alex, too.
Q: Do they try to recruit you to Minnesota?
A: Yeah, they’re trying to recruit me and trying to make me come there.
Q: What do you like about Michigan State?
A: I like the coaches there. (Izzo) is a winning coach. Getting to know his players a little bit is also great. I got to spend some time with them off the court. Obviously, on the court, they’re winners. I like the assistants, too, and the Big Ten Conference.
Q: How about UCLA?
A: Their tradition is really, really cool. I love the city – the great weather and all of that. Allerik Freeman and some other recruits are going there that I’d love to play with. There’s a lot of playing time available, because they’re missing a rebounder and that’s one of my strengths.
Q: Villanova?
A: I like Coach Wright a lot and how close he is with his players. It’s a family atmosphere with the coaching staff. It’s really nice – a private school. I like the way Coach Wright uses his players and develops them. I like the way Villanova plays and their system.
Q: Minnesota?
A: I like them a lot, too. Coach Smith is a real nice guy. I like the way he develops his bigs. It’s in the Big Ten Conference. There’s a lot of playing time available for me as a freshman especially with Trevor and Rodney leaving.
Q: What coach on the Minnesota staff do you have the best relationship with?
A: Probably Coach Taylor.
Q: Do you already know what school you want to attend, but are just waiting to announce on Wednesday?
A: No. It’s a tough decision. I don’t know, for sure. I’ve visited every school.
Q: Will you be watching the UCLA-Minnesota game?
A: It’s definitely an interesting game, because it’s two of my top four schools. It’s definitely an interesting game to watch.
His tone of voice sounded excited about UCLA and respectful/somewhat in admiration of Villanova and Michigan State.