All Things Grayson Grove Recruitment Thread (Class of 2024, Alexandria, MN; 6-8, 190lb; Gophers Commit!

[bga1]

I am not understanding how you come to this conclusion. 9 "pretty good" recruits? The majority of these recruits had little to no other high major offers. Ben has won a grand total of 1 recruiting battle in 3 years which was to land Cam Christie and even that one is a bit of a mystery. I follow the recruiting stuff as closely as anyone and Cam's recruitment was very quiet. I am just going to give Ben the benefit of the doubt here that some of Cam's better offers were commitable and he just had no interest in visiting those schools. By ratings, Cam is the only top 100 (!) kid Ben has landed as well.

Ben lost the local kids to Purdue and Michigan State in his first class. Then he lost the local kids to Ohio State and Wisconsin in his second class. He's lost guards to Tennessee and Providence, a forward to Missouri, and that's just off the top of my head.

Ben did a great job of identifying Payne. He averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds and never made a shot outside of 8 feet all year. I want to be clear Payne is a win for Ben, but the vast majority of high majors have at least one returning Freshman that their fans should feel as good about as we do about Payne. As a group of recruits the kids Ben brought in wouldn't look out of place at all as a 3 year haul for an A-10 or Mountain West team. When compared to other high majors, I'd be surprised if you could make a case for it being above the bottom 10% whether you chose to go by offers or rankings.

I feel really good about these guys- perhaps you don't and that's fine. Everyone of them appears to be a high character kid with plenty of potential.

 

[SoMpls]

I am not understanding how you come to this conclusion. 9 "pretty good" recruits? The majority of these recruits had little to no other high major offers. Ben has won a grand total of 1 recruiting battle in 3 years which was to land Cam Christie and even that one is a bit of a mystery. I follow the recruiting stuff as closely as anyone and Cam's recruitment was very quiet. I am just going to give Ben the benefit of the doubt here that some of Cam's better offers were commitable and he just had no interest in visiting those schools. By ratings, Cam is the only top 100 (!) kid Ben has landed as well.

Ben lost the local kids to Purdue and Michigan State in his first class. Then he lost the local kids to Ohio State and Wisconsin in his second class. He's lost guards to Tennessee and Providence, a forward to Missouri, and that's just off the top of my head.

Ben did a great job of identifying Payne. He averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds and never made a shot outside of 8 feet all year. I want to be clear Payne is a win for Ben, but the vast majority of high majors have at least one returning Freshman that their fans should feel as good about as we do about Payne. As a group of recruits the kids Ben brought in wouldn't look out of place at all as a 3 year haul for an A-10 or Mountain West team. When compared to other high majors, I'd be surprised if you could make a case for it being above the bottom 10% whether you chose to go by offers or rankings.

Lost players to Purdue and Michigan St? Who? Holloman is the one who looked out of place. He’ll never see anymore the spot minutes at MSU. Heide may never play. Not to mention King and Watson. Ben did great identifying that 2022 class. Payne, Carrington, and JOJ have upside. Not sure about the others outside of maybe Watson. Winter is potentially the only loss in 2023. We’ll have to see how Betts develops. Chapman is in over his head at OSU

 

[TheRealUncleRico]

I really recommend watching his highlights on YouTube (search Alexandira basketball or Grayson Grove or Alexandria vs. Holy Family basketball) and you'll get quite a bit.

I actually think the longer full game highlights (10-15 minutes) are really good from Fresh Coast Hoops. They aren't created to make Grove look good like Grove-specific highlights will do (like they do for every recruit). You get to see him in other people's highlights, playing defense in situations other than highlights (massive blocks/steals).

I went into watching a bunch of his highlights thinking I'd be underwhelmed (maybe just TT/Alex bias, I don't know), but he really impressed me.

I agree, I was in the same boat but came away impressed as well. Watching the fresh coast hoops highlights was interesting as well. Another player jumped off the film in some of his AAU games and after doing a little digging I found out that player was Max Shikenjanski out of Stillwater. He can really shoot the three and pass/create at a high level. I don’t typically follow any high school hoopers that aren’t ranked as “top in state talent” or aren’t discussed on here so I was really surprised to see that he averaged almost 30ppg as a senior and is walking on for the gophers football program. Is there any reason he is walking on for football instead of basketball? I feel like he could actually be a decent contributor off the bench in basketball where as football I just don’t see him having a chance to ever see the field.

 

[Drake University Gopher]

Is there any reason he is walking on for football instead of basketball? I feel like he could actually be a decent contributor off the bench in basketball where as football I just don’t see him having a chance to ever see the field.

Winning is more fun. My guess.

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

The “no other high major offers” is a poor measuring stick due to limited AAU exposure during Covid, multiple recruiting cycles were effected.

Exactly!

Great post and providing good reasoning regarding his recruitment.

 

[nooram]

Gophers basketball recruit Grayson Grove recovering from ankle surgery

Grayson Grove, a 6-9 Alexandria senior and Gophers recruit, missed the summer AAU season after ankle surgery. But he's on the road to a full recovery before his senior basketball season.

www.startribune.com

Grayson Grove played through an ankle sprain with Alexandria in the state tournament this March, but he never thought the injury would sideline him for the entire summer.

The 6-9 Gophers recruit took a break for a couple of months to see if his ankle would stop swelling. Turns out the injury ended up being a torn ligament and needed surgery. His last AAU season was over before it really started.

Grove couldn't play for D1 Minnesota this summer. His final season as goalkeeper for the Alexandria soccer team is also in question this fall. His biggest goal is to be ready for his senior year in basketball.

"I'll probably be at 100% and at full strength back with full explosiveness right before the basketball season," Grove said. "I might end up playing soccer at the end of the season, but I'm not sure yet how fast I'm going to recover for that."

Having surgery before the summer could have been a nightmare for a senior with hopes of attracting more offers during his last AAU season.

That wasn't the case for Grove, who committed to Ben Johnson and the Gophers on May 13 after making an official visit to campus. He joined D1 Minnesota teammate and Cherry guard Isaac Asuma in the program's 2024 recruiting class.

"It was a pretty easy decision for me," Grove said. "It's close to home. It's a really good college. I love all of the coaches there. It was really nice what they've been telling me and texting me throughout my recovery from injury."

Grove led Alexandria with 20 points, eight rebounds and nearly two blocks per game as a junior last season. He also shot 58% from the field and 39% from three-point range for a 25-6 squad that finished fourth in Class 3A.

Playing alongside talented Class of 2025 forward Chase Thompson, Grove provided a formidable inside presence with low post scoring and rim protection for Alexandria. The Gophers were also intrigued by Grove's versatility and offered him a scholarship in April.

Before his AAU season was cut short, Grove was the top frontcourt player for D1 Minnesota's 17U team that included Asuma and Totino-Grace's Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, who both stepped up in his absence. Johnson-Arigu is now a four-star prospect with several high-major offers.

Grove was disappointed he couldn't help his AAU teammates this summer, but he was proud of the way they battled without him, especially Asuma.

"Isaac had a super summer," Grove said. "He just gets better every time I see him. He just has that insane body control. He's working on becoming a better shooter and finishing around the paint. He's really good at controlling the game."

Though his soccer status is uncertain, he has been making progress on the basketball court. He is now participating in shooting drills and conditioning. He has also worked hard in the weight room to get stronger to play in the Big Ten in college.

"When I wasn't playing basketball, I was able to go to our gym every day and lift," Grove said. "I'm up 30 pounds of muscle right now. I'm about 235."

Grove has another year in high school, but he already feels a strong connection to the U. As a longtime Gophers fan, he hopes to see Johnson's program take a step forward this season.

"I'm excited to see them win some games with the new depth they have," Grove said. "They're certainly deeper than last year, obviously."

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Thanks for posting this.
He really put on some weight. 30 pounds is quite a lot.
Didn’t know he is also a goalie in soccer. Sucks that he had that injury. Hopefully it heals 100%
Probably very tough to not rush things regarding that tear.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

30 lbs?!?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Thanks for posting this.
He really put on some weight. 30 pounds is quite a lot.

Lots of effort involved, even if it’s 20 - sounds like he’ll be a big who can add weight easily and be able to bang on the boards.

Didn’t know he is also a goalie in soccer.

Elite feet

Probably very tough to not rush things regarding that tear.

Hidden Gem

 

[GoodasGold]

You thinking he is waiting for his UW offer?

I was just thinking, “now that kid has badger written all over him.”

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I was just thinking, “now that kid has badger written all over him.”

Alex Cards are real Gophers - not phony Baloney like some

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I feel really good about these guys- perhaps you don't and that's fine. Everyone of them appears to be a high character kid with plenty of potential.

He only ever posts negativity regarding Gopher Sports - it’s his bit, I guess.

 

[Tigger]

I am really looking forward to watching him this winter. Alexandria should be formidable up front!

 

[The SF Rock]

Grown and inch and added 30 pounds. Not every coach can see that coming. CBJ is a BB recruiting genius! Shooting just under 40% as a HA junior. He might might be a worthy replacement Garcia Gracia. He will be a 4, not a three. Looking forward to his playing days as a Gopher. I expect that he and Asuma will be the premier BB studs in Minnesota this winter. McAndrews who? Lol.