Kyle Washington on Minnesota: "I have a great relationship with the coaches."

Donate To GopherHole
GopherHole Staff

GopherHole Staff

GopherHole Admin
Staff member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
5,172
Reaction score
1,386
Points
113
Kyle Washington on Minnesota: "I have a great relationship with the coaches."

Kyle Washington on Minnesota: "I have a great relationship with the coaches."
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/145436?referrer_id=388419

Kyle Washington, a 6-foot-9 junior who transferred from St. Louis Park (MN) Benilde St. Margaret’s to Lakeville (CT) Hotchkiss this past year, is back in the Twin Cities this weekend to play for the Howard Pulley AAU program. GopherHole.com caught up with Washington Friday evening to learn the latest on his recruitment, his AAU plans and the year spent at prep school.

Washington has picked many major basketball offers since being reclassified as a member of the Class of 2013. He comes from a basketball family. His father, Curtis, played at St. Thomas Aquinas in New York. He was named All-Met Division II Player of the Year in 1986.

Washington has received offers from schools such as Baylor, Florida, Louisville, Washington, Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Minnesota, Miami, West Virginia, Drake, Iowa State, Marquette, Penn State, Wisconsin and Xavier.

Gopher Hole: How was the season at Hotchkiss?

Kyle Washington: It was pretty good. I was in a new role. I was in a leadership role, so I had to play hard every day or my team was probably going to lose. I got to learn from that and be a team leader.

Gopher Hole: What was your team’s record?

Kyle Washington: It was 13-10. We started off pretty rough, but we went on an eleven game-winning streak, so we got good.

Gopher Hole: What did you end up averaging?

Kyle Washington: 15 (points), 10 (rebounds) and 5 blocked shots). Our whole starting five averaged a double-double. We had a good team. Austin Coubert (who is playing in the EYBL for Team Final) plays on the team with me. I have made great friends with him.

Gopher Hole: What was the experience like away from the court?

Kyle Washington: It was good. Academically, Hotchkiss is an extremely hard school and off the court, you have a lot of time to lift weights and stay in the gym. That worked out very well.

Gopher Hole: It looks like you got a bigger?

Kyle Washington: I was just in the weight room all year, all season. I weight 215. Last year, I was 195.

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

Kyle Washington: Just going hard every time, using that motor. A lot of people don’t have that these days. Playing smart and being a smart player. Taking my rime in the post. Really having composure in there. Not fading away from my shots. That is the big thing.

Gopher Hole: What is your date of birth?

Kyle Washington: August 18th 1993. I turned 18 before this year, so I couldn’t play (in the EYBL). I am playing tomorrow. I’ll be at Eastview High School, so I am just going to play hard. It was good to support my team (he sat on the team during Pulley’s 88-77 win over the Georgia Stars). I’ll be with them in July. It was great to see Coach Love. It was great to see everyone.

Gopher Hole: So you can play in July?

Kyle Washington: I can play in July in other events. I can’t play in the EYBL.

Gopher Hole: Is that kind of tough?

Kyle Washington: It is. I was hoping to play, but I still get to go to all the camps, so that will be pretty fun. It is tough, though, because you come here and the atmosphere is great playing in front of your home fans. I am just so happy for Rene (Pulley) that he got EYBL here.

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now?

Kyle Washington: Nothing right now. I am just trying to figure out a top ten.

Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to?

Kyle Washington: 16.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?

Kyle Washington: I’m hearing that they would like me 2012 or 2013. I have a great relationship with the coaches. It would be at home and I know everybody. I know Joe (Coleman). I know Rodney (Williams). I know the people coming in next year and I know what Tubby is all about, so it will be exciting. I just have to keep on taking visits.

Gopher Hole: Is there any way you could be a 2012?

Kyle Washington: Maybe, perhaps. I don’t know. We just have to wait and see how the summer goes.

Gopher Hole: What would you need to do?

Kyle Washington: I don’t know. Just be ready to make a college decision, but I don’t want to rush it.

Gopher Hole: Who are some of the other main schools that you are hearing from the most?

Kyle Washington: Just from everybody. It has been balanced. I don’t want to name any schools and leave anyone out, so it has been everybody pretty much.
 

Sounds like we have to be the leader. He seemed pretty excited about the prospect of playing with his friends and even the bit how he would have loved to play in the tourney in front of his hometown fans seems to be in our favor. REALLY hope we get this guy.
 

If he reclassifies for 2012 I don't see how he would select the Gophers, in 2013 with Ingram, and Mbwake leaving he would be a perfect fit. Most of these kids make decisions based on playing the next year and not in a couple of years.
 

jovs said:
If he reclassifies for 2012 I don't see how he would select the Gophers, in 2013 with Ingram, and Mbwake leaving he would be a perfect fit. Most of these kids make decisions based on playing the next year and not in a couple of years.
Click to expand...
How could he reclassify to 2012? Isn't he a junior?
 

I don't see why he would reclassify. His options would have to be severally limited this late in the game. I bet he stays as a 2013 kid and commits to the Gophers.
 


jovs said:
If he reclassifies for 2012 I don't see how he would select the Gophers, in 2013 with Ingram, and Mbwake leaving he would be a perfect fit. Most of these kids make decisions based on playing the next year and not in a couple of years.
Click to expand...

That is a pretty general line of thinking. Not all players commit to a school in which they can become the first day starter.
 

stocker08 said:
That is a pretty general line of thinking. Not all players commit to a school in which they can become the first day starter.
Click to expand...

The gophers have 0 2012 scholarships. If he were to classify as a 2012 he will not select the Gophers.
 

No one is answering me on how he can reclassify :( If he had stayed at Benilde wouldn't this still have been his junior year?
 

zambam said:
No one is answering me on how he can reclassify :( If he had stayed at Benilde wouldn't this still have been his junior year?
Click to expand...

He finished his junior year at Benilde, transfered to Hotchiss, and reclassified to 2013. He probably has enough credits to graduate from high school and would qualify. It sounds like reclassifying to 2012 is a possibility based on the interview. Like other people are saying his choices would be limited though.

Wisconsin has a scholership available unfortunately.
 



scher215 said:
The gophers have 0 2012 scholarships. If he were to classify as a 2012 he will not select the Gophers.
Click to expand...

He just said in the interview they would take him in either class.
 

jovs said:
He finished his junior year at Benilde, transfered to Hotchiss, and reclassified to 2013. He probably has enough credits to graduate from high school and would qualify. It sounds like reclassifying to 2012 is a possibility based on the interview. Like other people are saying his choices would be limited though.

Wisconsin has a scholership available unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Oh, I thought he would've been a junior and was just older. Seeing as he doesn't turn 18 until what would have been the summer after his senior year, I understand reclassifying.
 

Obviously if Washington says the Gophers would take him in either 2012 or 2013, that is more significant than a message board poster pointing out that the Gophers currently are full for 2012. I had mentioned it previously in a private conversation that I thought it would be interesting if the Gophers could offer Washington for 2012, especially if he was willing to redshirt. He'd likely be in a much better shape to contribute in 2013 if he got in to a school and worked with a college strength staff, competed against high major players in practice, and learned the system for a year versus playing another year in prep school. It's probably a very unlikely scenario, but it was one that would seem to have a lot of upside for both Washington and the school he chooses.
 

Gold Vision said:
He just said in the interview they would take him in either class.
Click to expand...

So for Washington we would run a player off?
 





Maybe they meant they don't think he needs the extra year in order to be good enough to play for us, and in a hypothetical scenerio they would take him in 2012 if we had the scholarships.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom