Here is what I see and what we still need:
True Post—With Fox and Payne, I believe we have this position filled well for the next few years. Although, both are slightly undersized for Kofi Coburn/ David McCormick type centers, they both will be physical rebounders and rim protectors. I hope for them to average 12 points and 12 rebounds between them. At worst, an average B10 post presence with high upside
Stretch 4--Dawson Garcia and either Ihnen or Thompson (depends on Ihnen's ability to play the "3"). Garcia can truly score and maneuver inside or outside. Will be a problem for teams defensively as he and Battle are a perfect offensive match. Our stretch 4s will not be great rebounders but have some length and can guard undersized 4s on the perimeter. I see Dawson at 16/6.
Wing Forward--Battle and probably Ihnen. (also Stewart or Walton could play here). Very good scoring and solid rebounding and defense. Battle 16/6 also. Neither of the Forward spots have players who drive to the hole extensively which could be an issue when we are not hitting from outside.
2 positions: Wing/Combo Guard--5th starter and 6th man. Out of these 2 final spots left on our roster, I see Coach Johnson targeting 1. a true wing 6'6" kind of guy who can catch and shoot and play very good D, especially on quicker, smaller guards. Candidates include Stewart from Indiana, Walton (if he comes available in time), Jones from Davidson (still hearing Stanford). 2. A combo guard who can play 15 minutes a game at point and another 10 to 15 minutes on a wing. This guy needs to be able to drive to the hoop and have very good quickness to guard a very quick guard from another team. Currently we do not have one of those guys. Cooper is a good point guard and defender, but is not much of a driver or a guy who can defend a Ja Morant type who gets to the basket. Cooper's defensive ability is his strength, length and positioning. He can guard a forward easily, but no one on our roster is a quick ball hawking guard. Candidates are for combo guard: McIntosh from Elon, Thompson from Purdue, Strong from Illinois State.
Wing depth Henley will definitely develop into what they want for the wing position and has the athletic ability to be the slasher we are looking for. I still think he needs a year to get stronger and work on his technical skills. His body does resemble Coffey, but in the games I have seen him (3 or 4 total), skill development and growing into the body imo is still a little ways off
Combo Guard depth I think Carrington will get about 15 minutes of run this year per game. Very good skill wise but will still need to get stronger playing with 23 year olds.
Point Guard--Cooper is a pass first, strong smart and competitive point guard. Perfect when surrounded by shooters. Can guard 1/2 and 3s. Physical defender and rebounder. Pretty good outside shooter, but does not need to shoot to be effective. Tall and can see over defenses. Only issues are not a great driver and not overly quick offensively or defensively. That is why I think they need 1 very quick slasher and on the ball defender.
So, I think the 1st wing and the first combo guard to commit will get the last two positions. I would not be shocked to hear that Coach Johnson told a few of the guys to wait a week to commit as he is waiting on others. If we filled out the roster with any of the players listed above for each spot (Stewart, Walton, Jones and Mcintosh, Thompson, Strong) I would be tickled to death and think the roster would be constructed to be very consistent and an NCAA team not even on the bubble. That would be a lot of shooting and a good amount of strength. Depth would be about 8-9 deep.
It is interesting that the Gophers would have no seniors on the roster and although transfers could happen or Garcia could declare, there will not be many openings for 2023 recruits. First priority is for sure Chatman from Totino Grace. Anyone basing is college potential on only averaging 13 points per game or them not blowing out everybody is really missing the boat. He is one of those guys who is above average at every aspect of the game and will make an excellent college point guard. He is not amazing at anything, but I do not see a weakness in his game.
They will probably take 1 to 2 other recruits if they have room. That will include Winters if he wants it.
PG Cooper and combo guard
True Post—With Fox and Payne, I believe we have this position filled well for the next few years. Although, both are slightly undersized for Kofi Coburn/ David McCormick type centers, they both will be physical rebounders and rim protectors. I hope for them to average 12 points and 12 rebounds between them. At worst, an average B10 post presence with high upside
Stretch 4--Dawson Garcia and either Ihnen or Thompson (depends on Ihnen's ability to play the "3"). Garcia can truly score and maneuver inside or outside. Will be a problem for teams defensively as he and Battle are a perfect offensive match. Our stretch 4s will not be great rebounders but have some length and can guard undersized 4s on the perimeter. I see Dawson at 16/6.
Wing Forward--Battle and probably Ihnen. (also Stewart or Walton could play here). Very good scoring and solid rebounding and defense. Battle 16/6 also. Neither of the Forward spots have players who drive to the hole extensively which could be an issue when we are not hitting from outside.
2 positions: Wing/Combo Guard--5th starter and 6th man. Out of these 2 final spots left on our roster, I see Coach Johnson targeting 1. a true wing 6'6" kind of guy who can catch and shoot and play very good D, especially on quicker, smaller guards. Candidates include Stewart from Indiana, Walton (if he comes available in time), Jones from Davidson (still hearing Stanford). 2. A combo guard who can play 15 minutes a game at point and another 10 to 15 minutes on a wing. This guy needs to be able to drive to the hoop and have very good quickness to guard a very quick guard from another team. Currently we do not have one of those guys. Cooper is a good point guard and defender, but is not much of a driver or a guy who can defend a Ja Morant type who gets to the basket. Cooper's defensive ability is his strength, length and positioning. He can guard a forward easily, but no one on our roster is a quick ball hawking guard. Candidates are for combo guard: McIntosh from Elon, Thompson from Purdue, Strong from Illinois State.
Wing depth Henley will definitely develop into what they want for the wing position and has the athletic ability to be the slasher we are looking for. I still think he needs a year to get stronger and work on his technical skills. His body does resemble Coffey, but in the games I have seen him (3 or 4 total), skill development and growing into the body imo is still a little ways off
Combo Guard depth I think Carrington will get about 15 minutes of run this year per game. Very good skill wise but will still need to get stronger playing with 23 year olds.
Point Guard--Cooper is a pass first, strong smart and competitive point guard. Perfect when surrounded by shooters. Can guard 1/2 and 3s. Physical defender and rebounder. Pretty good outside shooter, but does not need to shoot to be effective. Tall and can see over defenses. Only issues are not a great driver and not overly quick offensively or defensively. That is why I think they need 1 very quick slasher and on the ball defender.
So, I think the 1st wing and the first combo guard to commit will get the last two positions. I would not be shocked to hear that Coach Johnson told a few of the guys to wait a week to commit as he is waiting on others. If we filled out the roster with any of the players listed above for each spot (Stewart, Walton, Jones and Mcintosh, Thompson, Strong) I would be tickled to death and think the roster would be constructed to be very consistent and an NCAA team not even on the bubble. That would be a lot of shooting and a good amount of strength. Depth would be about 8-9 deep.
It is interesting that the Gophers would have no seniors on the roster and although transfers could happen or Garcia could declare, there will not be many openings for 2023 recruits. First priority is for sure Chatman from Totino Grace. Anyone basing is college potential on only averaging 13 points per game or them not blowing out everybody is really missing the boat. He is one of those guys who is above average at every aspect of the game and will make an excellent college point guard. He is not amazing at anything, but I do not see a weakness in his game.
They will probably take 1 to 2 other recruits if they have room. That will include Winters if he wants it.
PG Cooper and combo guard
