All Things Dain Dainja Recruitment Thread (Class of 2020) Gophers Offered

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Having only see Dainja on video, what have those who have seen him in person think?

I see a big body, post-Pitino Mo Walker, I see good hands, good ball handling, good passer. Has a good first step and can spin facing up smaller players even. Might fall in love with perimeter stuff on occassion too much.
 

march madness said:
Having only see Dainja on video, what have those who have seen him in person think?

I see a big body, post-Pitino Mo Walker, I see good hands, good ball handling, good passer. Has a good first step and can spin facing up smaller players even. Might fall in love with perimeter stuff on occassion too much.
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I don't know if Mo is a great comparison, you pretty much nailed it in that last sentence. He floats around the three point line waaaay too much in my opinion. He's an ok shooter and a really strong ball handler but he doesn't use his size as much as you'd like. His attitude wasn't great in the game I saw him this year either, got frustrated easily and picked up a technical.

He actually reminds me of Jelly in some ways. The tools are there, he just needs to put it together and play to his strengths.
 





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Watched Dainja a couple times this weekend. I see him as a Caleb Swanigan. Huge, skilled, agile. Will get in better shape as he gets older and loses some baby fat.
 




He had a really good spin move and drop step on a couple of the prep sports games I saw online.
 

per Marcus:

Who are the best boys' basketball recruits in Minnesota's Class of 2020?

Here are five of the top Minnesota boys’ basketball players in the Class of 2020. The Gophers have made scholarship offers to all five. All are uncommitted.

1. Jalen Suggs Minnehaha Academy G 6-5, 185
2. Dawson Garcia Prior Lake PF 6-11, 220
3. Dain Dainja Park Center C 6-8, 240
4. Ben Carlson East Ridge PF 6-9, 205
5. Kerwin Walton Hopkins G 6-4, 170

http://www.startribune.com/who-are-...ruits-in-minnesota-s-class-of-2020/508785282/

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BleedGopher said:
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This is encouraging with Dain. To me, the kid that should be the local priority of the class. Potential multi year starter and from watching him play a couple times, a real tone setter. Love his toughness but also skill for a kid his size.
 

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Dainja needs to be a VERY high priority. VERY. Gophers never have guys with his natural build. He is a big kid. Rarely do we have guy who can bang with the Travion Williams type builds.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Dainja needs to be a VERY high priority. VERY. Gophers never have guys with his natural build. He is a big kid. Rarely do we have guy who can bang with the Travion Williams type builds.
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Agreed. We have guys that battle, but not beasts.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Dainja needs to be a VERY high priority. VERY. Gophers never have guys with his natural build. He is a big kid. Rarely do we have guy who can bang with the Travion Williams type builds.
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He's got a very quick first step, nice touch around the basket, and pretty good stepping out and shooting from the 10 ft range. What he is not is a stretch the floor/run and gun guy.
 

Hmmm, John Thomas and Richard Coffey come to mind.
 

Dainja, Suggs, and Walton is probably the absolute best Miinesota can do with this class. Dainja and Walton is more realistic, and that would be a big win.
 

Gopherguy0723 said:
Dainja, Suggs, and Walton is probably the absolute best Miinesota can do with this class. Dainja and Walton is more realistic, and that would be a big win.
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I thought Garcia was a Gopher fan.

Although it seems that Garcia, Dainja and Carlson all play pretty much the same position. Would be hard to get more than 1 of those three.
 
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jovs said:
He's got a very quick first step, nice touch around the basket, and pretty good stepping out and shooting from the 10 ft range. What he is not is a stretch the floor/run and gun guy.
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Never in my life, after watching 1000s of games and practices, have I seen a team score with 5 guys simultaneously in a fast break. Usually you just need 1 guy to put the ball in the hoop. I would have no issue with him standing on the defensive end as someone else dunks in fast break. And he doesn't need to stretch the floor. The other team needs to figure out how to move him off the block.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Never in my life, after watching 1000s of games and practices, have I seen a team score with 5 guys simultaneously in a fast break. Usually you just need 1 guy to put the ball in the hoop. I would have no issue with him standing on the defensive end as someone else dunks in fast break. And he doesn't need to stretch the floor. The other team needs to figure out how to move him off the block.
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Since only 1 guy can score at a time, we should just always have 4 guys back on defense.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Never in my life, after watching 1000s of games and practices, have I seen a team score with 5 guys simultaneously in a fast break. Usually you just need 1 guy to put the ball in the hoop. I would have no issue with him standing on the defensive end as someone else dunks in fast break. And he doesn't need to stretch the floor. The other team needs to figure out how to move him off the block.
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I love the guy, would really like to see him in a Gophers uniform, he would change the style you would play though, if people want a pressing fast break game he is probably not the best recruit, I haven't seen Garcia so I have no idea of his game but there is no reason Carlson and Dainja couldn't share the court at the same time, not sure Oturo and Dainja would be the best fit together though.
 

jovs said:
I love the guy, would really like to see him in a Gophers uniform, he would change the style you would play though, if people want a pressing fast break game he is probably not the best recruit, I haven't seen Garcia so I have no idea of his game but there is no reason Carlson and Dainja couldn't share the court at the same time, not sure Oturo and Dainja would be the best fit together though.
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The Gophers have barely pressed since Pitino took over. And again, if he got a rebound it can start a fast break. Let the other four guys run.
 

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Dainja is a center (6-9 260) . Garcia is a stretch 4 (6-10 205). Carlson (6-8 215) is a combo forward who can hit from outside. I think either could play with Dainja quite well.
 

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