New ESPN Recruiting Rankings: Minnesota Connections

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The new recruiting rankings came out this afternoon on ESPN, and these were the kids that are playing in Minnesota or considering the Gophers in their new rankings...

Class of 2014 goes from top 60 to now top 100, and 2015 from top 25 to top 60.

2014

Tyus Jones: #3 overall/ #1 PG, (Cliff Alexander jumps ahead of him)
Rashad Vaughn: #11 overall/ #1 SG
Reid Travis: #40 overall/ #7 PF (surprised he didn't get ranked higher)
Goodluck Okonoboh: #19 overall/ #5 Center
Josh Perkins: #24 overall/ #6 PG (fans would love a 11/24 pairing at Minnesota)
Brandone Francis: #34 overall/ #9 SG
Isaiah Whitehead: #35 overall/ #10 SG
Kaleb Joseph: #51 overall/ #12 PG
Paul White: #57 overall/ #15 SF
Terry Larrier: #59 overall/ #16 SF
Ja'Quan Newton: #67 overall/ #15 PG
Sandy Cohen: #70 overall/ #13 SG (11/70 combo for Minnesota possible & plays pos 1-3)

2015

Diamond Stone: #4 overall/ #1 Center (wouldn't really consider him a target)
Henry Ellenson: #29 overall/ #6 Center (hope his brother is steering him to Dinkytown)
Jarvis Johnson: #55 overall/ #6 PG (debut of another MN kid into ESPN rankings)

*The increased amount of bold numbers considering the gophers compared to last summer is really a testament to the work that Coach Pitino has done in his short time here! Keep it up coach!
 

A little weird Tyus got bumped down a spot, since he has been awesome in the eybl, but in the end its only one spot. I still think Tyus is the most skilled high school player in the country.
 

DeathClutch said:
A little weird Tyus got bumped down a spot, since he has been awesome in the eybl, but in the end its only one spot. I still think Tyus is the most skilled high school player in the country.
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Agreed. I think it's weird how a guy #8 would bump such a great PG out of the top 2. I guess Jahlil being out allowed Cliff Alexander to really be the shining star this EYBL season.
 

illikainen should get on there eventually he plays in a small town for a small aau team he just needs more exposure.. he is going to develop really nicely if he chooses us
 

Pitino will be judged on how he recruits the next couple years. There will never be a cycle that is this gift-wrapped for a MN coach. If he fails, we should immediately move on...I'm optimistic. Basketball is all about recruiting...we'll know where we stand in the next year and a half.
 


gopherdiehard said:
illikainen should get on there eventually he plays in a small town for a small aau team he just needs more exposure.. he is going to develop really nicely if he chooses us
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Exactly. With that said, part of me wants him to start playing with/against the best so that he develops, while the other part of me wants him to remain somewhat under the wraps and hopefully we can nap an early commitment from him.
 

The top two players are on the same AAU team.
 

Surprised Rashad and Reid went down (if I'm remembering their previous ESPN rankings correctly), not that it really matters.
 




it would be a beauty if there was no AAU circuit and the only team kids played for was their high school team, the kids would have no national exposure and the gophers could stockpile all this talent, tyus would be the best kept secret in basketball and so would vaughn, when the big ten season rolls around tyus would drop 20 and dish 10 a night and all the big ten coaches would go "who is this kid?"
 


die hard gopher said:
never knew sandy cohen was top 100 caliber
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Had a huge game when all eyes were on his court (Rashad vs. Tyus game). Always important to consider how often and when the evaluators have seen specific players play.
--------
Cliff is legit. He has _really_ improved. Excellent player.
 

GopherHomer said:
Pitino will be judged on how he recruits the next couple years. There will never be a cycle that is this gift-wrapped for a MN coach. If he fails, we should immediately move on...I'm optimistic. Basketball is all about recruiting...we'll know where we stand in the next year and a half.
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Define immediately move on. You don't sound like the optimistic type.
 




howieramone said:
I have to agree with you. I'm been very surprised how highly rated he is and I'd really like to see him play. I'm guessing we have a pretty good chance to sign him.
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I'd say Marquette #1, Minnesota #2 if I had to guess his preference list right now. However, he isn't flashy or anything, but he gets the job done with a little bit of everything. Great size, good quickness, can shoot the ball, can score a little, and really does a nice job of passing, and playing D.

He isn't being recruited for his scoring abilities, but more for his overall game that maybe the common fan wouldn't see.
 

howieramone said:
Define immediately move on. You don't sound like the optimistic type.
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You're right, that doesn't sound very optimistic. I'm not saying we should only look at the local (ish) players Pitino gets and immediately extend or fire. I'm willing to trust the coach and see if the players he gets can be successful. What I'm saying is maybe 4-5 (?) years from now, if Pitino fails to capitalize on most of the nearby talent and the Gophers are still spinning their wheels as a fringe tournament team, we should move on. I don't think that is too outrageous of a statement.

After looking at my original statement, I probably shouldn't have added that we'll know where we stand in the next year and a half. I think it's true that we probably will sort of know what we have in a coach in that time frame, you obviously cannot bail on a guy that quickly but there's no reason why we cannot be completely turned around in 2 years.
 

die hard gopher said:
it would be a beauty if there was no AAU circuit and the only team kids played for was their high school team, the kids would have no national exposure and the gophers could stockpile all this talent, tyus would be the best kept secret in basketball and so would vaughn, when the big ten season rolls around tyus would drop 20 and dish 10 a night and all the big ten coaches would go "who is this kid?"
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Yeah, guys never signed with distant programs before AAU basketball blew up.
 

He's a nice player, good length for his position. Very good handles, passing, ability to rebound with his size, and has some Austin Hollins defense in him. Not surprised at all he's top 1Hundo.

Think we have a great shot at him.
 

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