Q&A: Gophers Interest in J.P. Macura Intensifies As Critical AAU Season Gets Underway
Gophers Interest in J.P. Macura Intensifies, As Critical AAU Season Gets Underway
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/247097?referrer_id=331171
Junior shooter J.P. Macura of Lakeville North was named second team College Basketball News’ All-Metro and first team Star Tribune All-Metro after averaging more than 25 points per game in his first season of varsity action.
Macura helped lead the Panthers to the Class AAAA state tournament and has received interest from new head coach Richard Pitio and his staff. Macura has offers from North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Milwaukee, Toledo, Vermont, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, St. Louis, Utah State and New Mexico State and could receive a Minnesota offer. The Gophers talked to him Friday as did Crieghton, which made a home visit.
Coach Pitino is expected to contact Macura over the weekend and they will have a coach next weekend in Dallas as Macura’s AAU tean Minnesota D1, plays in the adidas VIP.
GopherHole.com caught up with Macura Thursday night to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What was the reaction when you heard about the Gopher coaching change?
J.P. Macura: I didn’t really know who Pitino was, but from what I am hearing, he is a good coach and there is going to be a different style of play. I am really looking forward to meeting him and building a relationship with the coaching staff. Hopefully, good things happen from there on out.
Gopher Hole: Are you going to try to go down to the campus this weekend?
J.P. Macura: We haven’t really talked about it. We only said that we are going to go down there this week or maybe next week. We still have to talk to them to see which works out the best for us.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now?
J.P. Macura: I think 11 or 12.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest ones?
J.P. Macura: The last one I had was Utah State. That was a long time ago. I haven’t got any recent one yet. Hopefully, they will start coming again.
Gopher Hole: What are the expectations for the AAU season? The next two tournaments college coaches will be on the road watching your team.
J.P. Macura: We just have to play together and hopefully play hard. Hopefully, good things come from there. Hopefully, we all get offers from that. The main thing is that we need to play together. We’ve got to run We’ve got to be smart, too.
Gopher Hole: What about your high school team? Lakeville North made it to the state tournament, but you lose some key guards to graduation. What are the expectations for your team next year? Have you thought about that much?
J.P. Macura: Not really, but I think that we are going to have a big team. We are going to have a few good guards, but I think that we are going to have a huge team. We are going to have Conner Flack (a 6-foot-3 sophomore) and a kid named Isaac Brooks (a 6-foot-5 sophomore) and Bronson Bruneau (a 6-foot-5 junior), a tall kid. I think that we are going to have a huge team. We are just going to put in plays that are going to have to work with our abilities of our players, but I think that we will be good. I think that we are going to be a big team. Like I said, we have some guards that are a lower grade, underclassmen that I think will be good for us next year.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
J.P. Macura: Just ballhandling and getting in the gym and getting up a ton of shots, good shots at game speed. Lifting and getting better at defense.
