All Things Cullen Russo Thread

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Junior Big Man Cullen Russo Adding Offers, Hopes Gophers Attend His Games
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/145408?referrer_id=388419

Cullen Russo, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound junior forward from Quakerdale Prep, will be playing for the Minnesota Pump N Run AAU 17-and-under team this weekend in the Best Buy Spring Classic. The former Bloomington Kennedy big man has picked up recently recruiting interest from Minnesota and talked to GopherHole.com about the latest on his recruitment, the upcoming AAU season and his senior year.

Russo averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for Quakerdale this season.

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on schools you are hearing right now?

Cullen Russo: I am currently hearing from Washington State and I have taken unofficial visits to Northern Iowa and Iowa State.

Gopher Hole: What offers do you have right now?

Cullen Russo: I had three offers from last summer’s AAU. It was from Western Kentucky, Arkansas State and Bowling Green.

Gopher Hole: What was the experience like at Quakerdale? How much do you think that helped you improve as a player?

Cullen Russo: It helped me so much. Coach Stan (Hughes) is a really good coach. He helped me come into a man. It is really physical. It gets you ready because the guys are a lot bigger. They are lot stronger and they are a lot better than you.

Gopher Hole: You played against a some junior college kids who are a year or two older than you. That has to help.

Cullen Russo: We play mostly junior colleges and a couple of prep schools. We played mostly junior college and some NAIA schools.

Gopher Hole: What was the experience away from the court in terms of academics?

Cullen Russo: There is nothing but time. You are not really going anywhere. You are kind of out on farm land, so there is no excuse for you to not have good grades. You have plenty of time to study and work on your game.

Gopher Hole: Do you think that it has been a positive experience going down there?

Cullen Russo: Definitely.

Gopher Hole: What are the expectations for the team this upcoming season? I know that you had a very good year last season and have several kids from Minnesota going down there.

Cullen Russo: This year, I think that we are going to have a lot more players from out of the state because the last two years, everyone has been hearing about us and kind of wants to go there. Maybe a couple of kids from Minnesota, but he has brought some kids in from Chicago and D.C. We are looking to just be a good team again.

Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?

Cullen Russo: I have been working really hard on my perimeter game, putting the ball on the floor and being able to hit the 15-foot shot and my post-up game.

Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a player?

Cullen Russo: Probably my top trait is how athletic I am. I am really athletic and my defense.

Gopher Hole: What have you gained from playing with Minnesota Pump N Run so far?

Cullen Russo: Oh, man. It is a really good team this year. I have gained a lot already. We just have to get the chemistry going and once we get the chemistry going, we’ll be good.

Gopher Hole: This week and next week are part of the “Open Period” when college coaches can watch you play. Is that something you are looking forward to let more coaches who don’t know about you, see your game.

Cullen Russo: Definitely. Most definitely. I am looking forward to them, but I am trying to not worry about that too much and let my coach handle that and not worry about what is going on the court.

Gopher Hole: I know that Minnesota assistant coach Ron Jirsa called your mom recently, right?

Cullen Russo: They contacted my mom a couple of times, but other than that I have not talked to anybody. I think that they will be at my games. I hope.
 


If this kid is a legit 6'9'' he really looks athletic, at 6'7'' he may not have the skills yet to play sf in D1.
 

Tweet from Monter:

"Minnesota Pump N Run forward Cullen Russo picked up a Drake offer. He previously had offers from St. Bonaventure and Cal Bakersfield."

Go Gophers!!
 



I think he is worth an offer, big time hops , nice outside touch, very good potential
 

When I saw him in Denver earlier this summer he looked to be 6'7-6'8 when compared against players that I know and work with weekly. But he is built solid and has a very big frame. This was a few months ago I wouldn't be shocked if he grew two inches this summer. I wouldn't say that the Denver Best Buy tournament wasn't a loaded tournament but he scored at will against anyone, and former Duke Blue Devil Marty Clark said he was far and away the best player at the tournament. Marty was talking with a former NBA guy and they agreed that he was most likely the quickest player in the tournament, and had to be in the top 5 in speed. He had above average skills, but nothing that would blow you away (if he was 6'5 no one would care). With all that said he looked board all weekend. Even with some teams stuck with them for a while he just seemed to be uninterested. He body language couldn't have been worse, he looked at times like he was being forced to play. That's part of who he seemed to be, when he walked in the the gym he walked like a guy who knew he was the best there. But he didn't carry that over into a game and just dominate the way he should have.

They kicked the crap out of our 17's (who just made it to the elite 8 in the King James tournament this weekend) and everyone else, but they didn't have a lot of schools looking at them. The two times I watched them I didn't see anyone from the U. But I did see someone from Iowa, and a lot of mid majors. I know a few D2 guys who told me flat out that they do not recruit Pump and Run guys, that could have something to do with his offers but I doubt it. I've had limited exposure to Pump and Run, so I don't want to repeat anything I don't know to be 100% fact. I will say that given how he carries himself I'm not socked that Tubby hasn't offered him, but he was one of the better players I've seen this summer.
 

gaunt006 said:
When I saw him in Denver earlier this summer he looked to be 6'7-6'8 when compared against players that I know and work with weekly. But he is built solid and has a very big frame. This was a few months ago I wouldn't be shocked if he grew two inches this summer. I wouldn't say that the Denver Best Buy tournament wasn't a loaded tournament but he scored at will against anyone, and former Duke Blue Devil Marty Clark said he was far and away the best player at the tournament. Marty was talking with a former NBA guy and they agreed that he was most likely the quickest player in the tournament, and had to be in the top 5 in speed. He had above average skills, but nothing that would blow you away (if he was 6'5 no one would care). With all that said he looked board all weekend. Even with some teams stuck with them for a while he just seemed to be uninterested. He body language couldn't have been worse, he looked at times like he was being forced to play. That's part of who he seemed to be, when he walked in the the gym he walked like a guy who knew he was the best there. But he didn't carry that over into a game and just dominate the way he should have.

They kicked the crap out of our 17's (who just made it to the elite 8 in the King James tournament this weekend) and everyone else, but they didn't have a lot of schools looking at them. The two times I watched them I didn't see anyone from the U. But I did see someone from Iowa, and a lot of mid majors. I know a few D2 guys who told me flat out that they do not recruit Pump and Run guys, that could have something to do with his offers but I doubt it. I've had limited exposure to Pump and Run, so I don't want to repeat anything I don't know to be 100% fact. I will say that given how he carries himself I'm not socked that Tubby hasn't offered him, but he was one of the better players I've seen this summer.
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You sure you're not mixing things up here? I was at the tourney and it wasn't at all the best tourney for the MN PnR 17's... lost early to a Colorado team and didn't make it to the 17U finals, so they certainly didn't kick the crap out of everyone. I'm guessing I know who you're getting Russo confused with.

PS - Saul Smith was there watching.

Anyway, I think at this point in time Russo is worth ongoing consideration by the Gophers.
 

Russo's combination of size and athleticism is intriguing and he's not a bad shooter or ball handler, but I think he lacks the motor, feel for the game, and consistent ability to finish around the rim to warrant a Big 10 offer. Certainly has a lot of potential though and if he's able to improve on those things he could be very good.
 



Gopher Warrior said:
You sure you're not mixing things up here? I was at the tourney and it wasn't at all the best tourney for the MN PnR 17's... lost early to a Colorado team and didn't make it to the 17U finals, so they certainly didn't kick the crap out of everyone. I'm guessing I know who you're getting Russo confused with.

PS - Saul Smith was there watching.

Anyway, I think at this point in time Russo is worth ongoing consideration by the Gophers.
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If they lost it was to a show case team. I watched them against Next Level 17, and a Texas team I don't remember what the name was. Marty had the video up for a month but then he took it down because it looked like he was promoting Pump and Run. They have some high lights up on our webpage. If was awhile ago, and my team played like crap (younger 14U mostly made up of 13's) so I could be wrong but the player I'm thinking of was 32 in these clips.

If you are trying to get a read on height. Leonard Davis is a shade under 6'6. (Now that I think about it I think he was only 6'5 in this clip)
http://www.myvideowebshow.com/video/55551

This kid Isaiah Parros, son of Rick Parros, has impressed Wyoming and this was all he could do against Pump
http://www.myvideowebshow.com/video/55546

What team did they lose to? Don't tell me if was Chaos...
 

gaunt006 said:
What team did they lose to? Don't tell me if was Chaos...
Click to expand...

You're right on the player, that is him... hmm, interesting take.

They lost to.. pretty sure it was the Miners before bracket play started. Had no business losing to them, but they did.

Then I believe they lost to the eventual winners - TX D1 Ambassadors - Morse, who beat NM Danny Granger Elite in the 17U final.

For MN PnR that weekend, the 16U team lost in the finals and 15U cruised to the championship... but it was a rough one for the 17U squad with those two loses.
 

Gopher Warrior said:
You're right on the player, that is him... hmm, interesting take.

They lost to.. pretty sure it was the Miners before bracket play started. Had no business losing to them, but they did.

Then I believe they lost to the eventual winners - TX D1 Ambassadors - Morse, who beat NM Danny Granger Elite in the 17U final.

For MN PnR that weekend, the 16U team lost in the finals and 15U cruised to the championship... but it was a rough one for the 17U squad with those two loses.
Click to expand...

Nope you were right I had to call Marty, he said its Reid Travis that I'm thinking of... I should have known I was wrong Cullen class of 13, not 14. As usual I started typing without having my thoughts in order, sorry.
 

gaunt006 said:
Nope you were right I had to call Marty, he said its Reid Travis that I'm thinking of... I should have known I was wrong Cullen class of 13, not 14. As usual I started typing without having my thoughts in order, sorry.
Click to expand...

Gotcha.. that's who I originally thought you were thinking of (#22 in the vids). Reid's probably 6'7" (Russo's a couple inches taller).
 



Is Russo in the mold of the Damian Johnson/Rodney Williams type "4" that Tubby has used at times? He seems kind of stuck between positions, but does seem to have the athleticism to play at a high major level (looks even better in the brief clip in the 2013 recruits thread).
 

EG#9 said:
Is Russo in the mold of the Damian Johnson/Rodney Williams type "4" that Tubby has used at times? He seems kind of stuck between positions, but does seem to have the athleticism to play at a high major level (looks even better in the brief clip in the 2013 recruits thread).
Click to expand...

That's a reasonable comparison, but he's about half as agressive as Rodney was early as a Gopher. He has a lot of the things you can't teach and has nice mechanics on his shot, which gives me confidence that he can keep improving there if he works at it, but he really needs to start playing harder. As it is right now he makes Ralph Sampson's motor look like Mbakwe's. If the light switch turns on for him he could certainly play high major basketball, but until then....
 

GophersOnTheRise said:
That's a reasonable comparison, but he's about half as agressive as Rodney was early as a Gopher. He has a lot of the things you can't teach and has nice mechanics on his shot, which gives me confidence that he can keep improving there if he works at it, but he really needs to start playing harder. As it is right now he makes Ralph Sampson's motor look like Mbakwe's. If the light switch turns on for him he could certainly play high major basketball, but until then....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. The motor issue is a big red flag for me, especially for a guy who needs to work to play high major ball. Some guys are talented enough that they can have an impact at the high major level without that intensity, but they are usually top 25-50 type talents.
 

I don't believe it has been stated yet in the thread but he was recently on an unofficial visit to the U of M. So there clearly is interest between the staff and Russo. I would guess if the staff misses on Foster, Schilling, Brown and Hayes he would get an offer. I am not concerned about this class, but if Tubby and co. miss on all 4, then I just might be.
 

Winona Gopher said:
I don't believe it has been stated yet in the thread but he was recently on an unofficial visit to the U of M. So there clearly is interest between the staff and Russo. I would guess if the staff misses on Foster, Schilling, Brown and Hayes he would get an offer. I am not concerned about this class, but if Tubby and co. miss on all 4, then I just might be.
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Don't forget Washington, but if we miss on all of them it wouldn't surprise me if Russo becomes a Gopher.
 

GophersOnTheRise said:
Don't forget Washington, but if we miss on all of them it wouldn't surprise me if Russo becomes a Gopher.
Click to expand...

I didn't mention Washington because he above the other 4. No disrespect to the other 4 though. I do believe they land 1 of the 4, most likely Foster followed by Schilling, Brown then Hayes. I am curious with the guards but that is another story.
 

Tweet from Pump N Run: @DaveTelep Cullen Russo is at Southern Tech Academy. He was offered by Miami (FL) tonight.

Go Gophers!!
 

Russo attended the game tonight, per Monter.

Go Gophers!!
 

Never heard of this kid. Why is he ranked so low? Looks like a great athlete.

 




@ebosshoops: Cullen Russo, what an intriguing player. Class of 2013, 6-8 athlete w/ skill and inconsistency to burn

Go Gophers!!
 


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