All Things 2024 Gophers Basketball Recruiting Thread - Videos, Tweets, Articles, Rumors, Analysis and More

[GopherPlaya]

Doesn't appear we are recruiting Freitag on the basketball side:

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Go Gophers!!

They are focusing on Asuma. I’ve said it before on here there are schools that have backed off a bit because of attitude & other issues. Iowa State & Baylor offered early & they weren’t mentioned as well.

 

[ecoperson]

Let the hand-wringing begin!

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Some of the competition for Trent

 

[ecoperson]

Go Gophers!!

Perry is another SoCal recruit. I have seen him in some Top 100 lists. Johnson and company are continuing to look for talent in future B1G territory.

"It's a bold strategy,Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for him."

 

[sal]

Perry is another SoCal recruit. I have seen him in some Top 100 lists. Johnson and company are continuing to look for talent in future B1G territory.

"It's a bold strategy,Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for him."

Recruiting to the West as well as the East is a good strategy. We seem to be ahead of the curve as the B10 footprint expands.

 

[Holy Man]

Recruiting to the West as well as the East is a good strategy. We seem to be ahead of the curve as the B10 footprint expands.

Perhaps. But I get a little nervous about guys coming into our cold climate and not being able to handle it. Hopefully Henley and Evans can sell the others on it. Clearly there is some relational pipeline in SoCal. Not sure it’s just being ahead of the game with the new additions. I wonder if Thorson or Jenkins had previous contacts there.

 

[PhiloVance]

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[Gophs24]

really interested in how this class is going to shape up. And how BJ is going to be able to sell himself and the program with what looks like a historically bad season.
Asuma(or another high end PG) is at the top of the list.


2022 was very sold.
2023 is awesome.
2024??

 

[UpAndUnder43]

really interested in how this class is going to shape up. And how BJ is going to be able to sell himself and the program with what looks like a historically bad season.
Asuma(or another high end PG) is at the top of the list.


2022 was very sold.
2023 is awesome.
2024??

I think the harder part is selling playing time may not be as easy after the 2022 and 2023 classes, Battle/Garcia/Cooper being here still. Assuming there isn’t a lot of departing minutes of course. But he also will (likely) not be selling success. So what is the pitch? Not saying 2024 is doomed. But it’s worth thinking about.

 

[Dupreefor3]

I think the harder part is selling playing time may not be as easy after the 2022 and 2023 classes, Battle/Garcia/Cooper being here still. Assuming there isn’t a lot of departing minutes of course. But he also will (likely) not be selling success. So what is the pitch? Not saying 2024 is doomed. But it’s worth thinking about.

Locally I think Asuma and Jonathan McKennon out of Eastview are two guys we should be hot after. Asuma there's the obvious need. McKennon could be the late bloomer that Payne in 2022 and Betts were in 2023. He could be someone that comes in, sits behind some older players and develops as an upperclassmen

 

[skyman31]

I think the harder part is selling playing time may not be as easy after the 2022 and 2023 classes, Battle/Garcia/Cooper being here still. Assuming there isn’t a lot of departing minutes of course. But he also will (likely) not be selling success. So what is the pitch? Not saying 2024 is doomed. But it’s worth thinking about.

Yeah that’s an interesting point. It feels like a lot of the main recruiting points are generally:
1. This is a winning program and if you come here you will compete for the big ten/national titles
2. You can come here and get immediate playing time
3. You can come here and we can develop you into an NBA guy.

Johnson isn’t really gonna have any of those selling points next year. Will be a real impressive showing if he can still pull in a good class.

 

[GopherPlaya]

Locally I think Asuma and Jonathan McKennon out of Eastview are two guys we should be hot after. Asuma there's the obvious need. McKennon could be the late bloomer that Payne in 2022 and Betts were in 2023. He could be someone that comes in, sits behind some older players and develops as an

def agree with this

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Locally I think Asuma and Jonathan McKennon out of Eastview are two guys we should be hot after. Asuma there's the obvious need. McKennon could be the late bloomer that Payne in 2022 and Betts were in 2023. He could be someone that comes in, sits behind some older players and develops as an upperclassmen

I am 100% in on Asuma. Sadly with having a kid and moving further west I have not watched much high school ball since pre-Covid. What position is McKennon?

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Yeah that’s an interesting point. It feels like a lot of the main recruiting points are generally:
1. This is a winning program and if you come here you will compete for the big ten/national titles
2. You can come here and get immediate playing time
3. You can come here and we can develop you into an NBA guy.

Johnson isn’t really gonna have any of those selling points next year. Will be a real impressive showing if he can still pull in a good class.

Exactly. Not saying it can’t be done. But with no or limited departures you’re going to be selling guys on maybe having to beat someone out to be in the rotation. Point guard excluded. Please got get a PG.

 

[bga1]

I think the harder part is selling playing time may not be as easy after the 2022 and 2023 classes, Battle/Garcia/Cooper being here still. Assuming there isn’t a lot of departing minutes of course. But he also will (likely) not be selling success. So what is the pitch? Not saying 2024 is doomed. But it’s worth thinking about.

Bingo. That's the issue. How do you maintain momentum, if people cannot see on the court what you are promising will happen? By the fall of 2023 a 2024 class signee has to believe that there is a really nice future here. So that means this year's results are the sales pitch. Ouch.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Bingo. That's the issue. How do you maintain momentum, if people cannot see on the court what you are promising will happen? By the fall of 2023 a 2024 class signee has to believe that there is a really nice future here. So that means this year's results are the sales pitch. Ouch.

I think the next 18 games will provide a lot of clarification on what we have and what we need. Obviously guys will develop and change. The chemistry will be intriguing. Coaching decisions are more important in conference games. Much can be gleaned. The difference between this year and last year is most of this team can be back next year.

 

[bc2211]

Yeah that’s an interesting point. It feels like a lot of the main recruiting points are generally:
1. This is a winning program and if you come here you will compete for the big ten/national titles
2. You can come here and get immediate playing time
3. You can come here and we can develop you into an NBA guy.

Johnson isn’t really gonna have any of those selling points next year. Will be a real impressive showing if he can still pull in a good class.

I agree completely, and would add that I think this dilemma is/was destined to occur because of CBJ’s thin resume compared to the competition. Can only sell hope for so long before your record and results matter.

However, to his credit, he has what looks like a serviceable 2022 class, and he knocked 2023 out of the park.

 

[bga1]

I think the next 18 games will provide a lot of clarification on what we have and what we need. Obviously guys will develop and change. The chemistry will be intriguing. Coaching decisions are more important in conference games. Much can be gleaned. The difference between this year and last year is most of this team can be back next year.

Let's get that started! I hope Meno and Mn Jay are tromping all over the doubters late tonight!

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Let's get that started! I hope Meno and Mn Jay are tromping all over the doubters late tonight!

I think it needs to be a full season eval. A win or loss tonight means something. But a loss tonight and a 6-11 finish means a lot. A win tonight and an 1-16 finish means a lot. Ya know? Trying to be patient.

 

[Dupreefor3]

I am 100% in on Asuma. Sadly with having a kid and moving further west I have not watched much high school ball since pre-Covid. What position is McKennon?

All good. McKennon TBD, I would say right now he's a 6'7" big wing so it depends if he's done growing or not. Grayson Grove and Jackson McAndrew are two other guys I would say are stretch fours but if they continue to grow and reach 6'10", 6'11" they could be viewed as legit center prospects. Be an interesting summer if 2023 to see how guys progress and fill out

 

[skyman31]

I agree completely, and would add that I think this dilemma is/was destined to occur because of CBJ’s thin resume compared to the competition. Can only sell hope for so long before your record and results matter.

However, to his credit, he has what looks like a serviceable 2022 class, and he knocked 2023 out of the park.

For sure, he’s done a great job recruiting so far. Now, you don’t need to actually compete this year, but you do need to do enough that you can sell a 2024 recruit on the idea that by the time they get here in 2024, the team will be close enough that they’ll be the missing piece that pushes them over the top.

 

[Gophs24]

I am 100% in on Asuma. Sadly with having a kid and moving further west I have not watched much high school ball since pre-Covid. What position is McKennon?

McKennon is like a 6'6" forward. has some potential. would be a guy to keep an eye on. havent been able to see him in any games yet this year.
Grove is a guy i have watched a couple times. i think at the same point in their careers Grove is a better prospect then TT was from Alex. And the thing with Grove is he has continued to get better where TT maybe peaked early. he can certainly shoot the ball and he has a bit of moxy to him this year
I havent seen the McAndrew kid play.
Asuma is the real deal and the added bonus is there is a family tree to go after there as well.

 

[GopherPlaya]

McKennon is like a 6'6" forward. has some potential. would be a guy to keep an eye on. havent been able to see him in any games yet this year.
Grove is a guy i have watched a couple times. i think at the same point in their careers Grove is a better prospect then TT was from Alex. And the thing with Grove is he has continued to get better where TT maybe peaked early. he can certainly shoot the ball and he has a bit of moxy to him this year
I havent seen the McAndrew kid play.
Asuma is the real deal and the added bonus is there is a family tree to go after there as well.

Groves is probably Mid Major at best. TT was part of a down year as far as in state recruiting n he benefited off that imo (as welll as being 6’11) if you watched him play in high school, you wouldn’t have guessed high major

 

[Gophs24]

Groves is probably Mid Major at best. TT was part of a down year as far as in state recruiting n he benefited off that imo (as welll as being 6’11) if you watched him play in high school, you wouldn’t have guessed high major

exactly why i said Groves is a better player then TT was at the same point. because he is. Groves is a much better athlete and shooting than TT was. Seen TT play plenty. this summer will be a big summer for Groves. St. Thomas or one of the Dakota D1's seem like a decent spot for him at the moment.

Asuma & Frietag are the only true high end D1 prospects at the moment.

 

[GopherPlaya]

exactly why i said Groves is a better player then TT was at the same point. because he is. Groves is a much better athlete and shooting than TT was. Seen TT play plenty. this summer will be a big summer for Groves. St. Thomas or one of the Dakota D1's seem like a decent spot for him at the moment.

Asuma & Frietag are the only true high end D1 prospects at the moment.

Def agree. The 23, 24 & 25 classes also make the reasoning behind Ben’s hiring kinda pointless bc it’s not like there will be a large number of MN kids who we should be offering. We missed on a golden era of MN recruits n we overreacted

 

[studentgopher94]

Def agree. The 23, 24 & 25 classes also make the reasoning behind Ben’s hiring kinda pointless bc it’s not like there will be a large number of MN kids who we should be offering. We missed on a golden era of MN recruits n we overreacted

He has the best rated player since Kris Humphries coming in next year form Southern California...who cares, the point is to get players who can win games, that fact is looking up.

 

[Gophs24]

Def agree. The 23, 24 & 25 classes also make the reasoning behind Ben’s hiring kinda pointless bc it’s not like there will be a large number of MN kids who we should be offering. We missed on a golden era of MN recruits n we overreacted

not to derail this thread into 2025. But Jalen Wilson is a guy who will be a high major recruit.
not from MN, (and we all know that doesnt matter) but Mason Klabo from Fargo plays for Howard Pulley is a kid who is a fun guy to watch in person. Plays for Fargo Davies. not saying he will be a true high major high end recruit. But a guy to keep tabs on. hes a player

EDIT. i see the 2025 thread was just bumped as well. Mods feel free to move this to that one as well

 

[Dupreefor3]

not to derail this thread into 2025. But Jalen Wilson is a guy who will be a high major recruit.
not from MN, (and we all know that doesnt matter) but Mason Klabo from Fargo plays for Howard Pulley is a kid who is a fun guy to watch in person. Plays for Fargo Davies. not saying he will be a true high major high end recruit. But a guy to keep tabs on. hes a player

Kid from Orono really good too. As for 2024 Frietag, Asuma, Robinson are all high Major guys with McAndrew, McKennon, Chavis and Grove pith the potential to get there. I bet there's five high Major players in that class when it's all said and done