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The first full recruiting class for Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino doesn't have any members of the "Big Three" or any other national prospects just yet, but experts say it's still a "solid class."
Pitino missed out on Reid Travis, the DeLaSalle power forward who announced last week he plans to play at Stanford. And he's not expected to get Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones, either; Jones will announce his college pick Friday. Rashad Vaughn, a shooting guard who played last year at Robbinsdale Cooper, is likely waiting until the spring to decide.
But the University of Minnesota will sign a trio of three-star recruits in Nate Mason, Josh Martin and Carlos Morris on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for basketball.
"For the situation that coach Pitino and his staff were in, I think they did a good job," 247Sports.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. "(The class is) solid. I think they're going to expect more from themselves recruiting-wise in the years to come. But Nate is a dynamic player who can really score. He'll be a very good player for Minnesota."
Meyer and Rivals.com recruiting analyst Eric Bossi both rate Mason, a senior at Arlington Country Day High School in Florida, as the top player in Pitino's class.
He's only 5 feet 11, 160 pounds, but Mason made one of the biggest impacts on the summer AAU scene this summer with the CP3 All-Stars team.
He scored 19 points at the Nike Peach Jam tournament against a Howard Pulley AAU team that featured Jones and Travis.
"I really, really like Nate Mason," Howard Pulley founder Rene Pulley said. "He's a big-time player. He really lit us up when we played. I think a lot of people slept on him because of his size. But he can play. He was a great get for Pitino."
Bossi said Mason is in the mold of Gophers junior Andre Hollins, who is more of a scorer than a true point guard.
"He has the ability to play the point, it's just the situation he's been in his teams needed him to be more of a scorer than a set-up guy," Bossi said. "He's just a tough little dude. He's a winner. If you look at his percentages, he doesn't have an eye-popping percentage, but when the game is on the line, the guy makes a play. When he gets stronger and is able to adjust to Big Ten basketball, I think that kid is going to be pretty good."
Morris, a 6-foot-5 swingman at Chipola College (Fla.), played at the high school Mason attends now in Jacksonville, Fla. Mason, who initially planned to transfer to Montrose Christian in Maryland before going to Arlington Country Day, averaged 18 points a game at Shiloh High School in Snellville, Ga., as a junior last season.
"I know (Arlington Country Day coach Rex Morgan) is going to be on him; he's a tough coach," Morris said. "I know Nate played for CP3 and he's a really good point guard -- underrated. I know he can get people involved and score. I'm ready to play with him."
Martin, the first player in the 2014 class to make a commitment to Pitino and the Gophers, was excited when he saw the other two players join him.
"I know the coaching staff would only recruit guys who play hard," Martin said. "And I like playing with those types of players, guys who want to be in the gym."
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Martin is similar to Travis in size and athletic ability but isn't nearly as highly rated.
Bossi said the Bothell (Wash.) power forward is another recruit who could make this a sleeper class if he reaches his potential.
"He's a very good athlete. He's quick around the rim. He tries to punish the rim when he can," Bossi said. "His size, athleticism and strength are all Big Ten caliber. It's just a matter of kind of putting everything together with his output."
Follow Marcus R. Fuller at twitter.com/GophersNow.
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Pitino missed out on Reid Travis, the DeLaSalle power forward who announced last week he plans to play at Stanford. And he's not expected to get Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones, either; Jones will announce his college pick Friday. Rashad Vaughn, a shooting guard who played last year at Robbinsdale Cooper, is likely waiting until the spring to decide.
But the University of Minnesota will sign a trio of three-star recruits in Nate Mason, Josh Martin and Carlos Morris on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for basketball.
"For the situation that coach Pitino and his staff were in, I think they did a good job," 247Sports.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. "(The class is) solid. I think they're going to expect more from themselves recruiting-wise in the years to come. But Nate is a dynamic player who can really score. He'll be a very good player for Minnesota."
Meyer and Rivals.com recruiting analyst Eric Bossi both rate Mason, a senior at Arlington Country Day High School in Florida, as the top player in Pitino's class.
He's only 5 feet 11, 160 pounds, but Mason made one of the biggest impacts on the summer AAU scene this summer with the CP3 All-Stars team.
He scored 19 points at the Nike Peach Jam tournament against a Howard Pulley AAU team that featured Jones and Travis.
"I really, really like Nate Mason," Howard Pulley founder Rene Pulley said. "He's a big-time player. He really lit us up when we played. I think a lot of people slept on him because of his size. But he can play. He was a great get for Pitino."
Bossi said Mason is in the mold of Gophers junior Andre Hollins, who is more of a scorer than a true point guard.
"He has the ability to play the point, it's just the situation he's been in his teams needed him to be more of a scorer than a set-up guy," Bossi said. "He's just a tough little dude. He's a winner. If you look at his percentages, he doesn't have an eye-popping percentage, but when the game is on the line, the guy makes a play. When he gets stronger and is able to adjust to Big Ten basketball, I think that kid is going to be pretty good."
Morris, a 6-foot-5 swingman at Chipola College (Fla.), played at the high school Mason attends now in Jacksonville, Fla. Mason, who initially planned to transfer to Montrose Christian in Maryland before going to Arlington Country Day, averaged 18 points a game at Shiloh High School in Snellville, Ga., as a junior last season.
"I know (Arlington Country Day coach Rex Morgan) is going to be on him; he's a tough coach," Morris said. "I know Nate played for CP3 and he's a really good point guard -- underrated. I know he can get people involved and score. I'm ready to play with him."
Martin, the first player in the 2014 class to make a commitment to Pitino and the Gophers, was excited when he saw the other two players join him.
"I know the coaching staff would only recruit guys who play hard," Martin said. "And I like playing with those types of players, guys who want to be in the gym."
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Martin is similar to Travis in size and athletic ability but isn't nearly as highly rated.
Bossi said the Bothell (Wash.) power forward is another recruit who could make this a sleeper class if he reaches his potential.
"He's a very good athlete. He's quick around the rim. He tries to punish the rim when he can," Bossi said. "His size, athleticism and strength are all Big Ten caliber. It's just a matter of kind of putting everything together with his output."
Follow Marcus R. Fuller at twitter.com/GophersNow.
Print Email Return to Top
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Timberwolves: Kevin Martin's shooting touch just what this team needed
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A&EBusinessNewsPoliticsSports
Bill Gleason
wbgleason
The Carpetbagger knows a lot about lying with pigs. ow.ly/qLd8p Pigs are winning in his home state of SCarolina #mngop #stribpol
38m
Sansevere's Huddle: Joe Mauer, Vikings face Percy Harvin and Jerry Kill
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St. Paul Local Guide
Great Health Nutrition
Blue Cross
Midway Liquor Store
Amy Rostad Century 21 Premier Group
Add your business here +
