Q&A: Delshon Strickland Makes Unofficial Visits to U as Gophers Recruitment Picks Up

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Q&A: Delshon Strickland Makes Unofficial Visits to U as Gophers Recruitment Picks Up

Delshon Strickland Makes Unofficial Visits to the U as Gophers Recruitment Picks Up
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/298840?referrer_id=388419

Delshon Strickland, a 6-4 senior guard from Minnetonka (MN) High, has made several unofficial visits to the U recently and has seen his recruiting interest from the local squad pick up as well as scholarship offers from Auburn, Virginia Tech and many others.

Strickland transferred to Minnetonka after playing at Holy Angels the past two years. He scored in double figures in all but four games this past season for the Stars and averaged 18.3 points per game. Strickland had nine games of 20 or more points and added two more games of 30 or more, including a season-best 36 points versus Chaska. The Stars were the top seed in Section 6AAA, but were upset in the playoffs. Strickland was a third team College Basketball News' All-Metro selection.

Gopher Hole recently caught up with Strickland to learn more about his transfer, recruitment and interest in Minnesota.

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? How many offers are you up to right now? Do you still keep track or is it getting a little bit harder?

Delshon Strickland: I think that I have about 16.

Gopher Hole: What are some of the more recent offers that you have?

Delshon Strickland: UTEP and Green Bay.

Gopher Hole: Have you thought about when you are going to try to decide on a school? Would you sign in November or would you wait until April?

Delshon Strickland: Right now, I don't really have a timeline to it, but if all my visits go well, I'll probably sign early, but if not, I'll sign in the early spring.

Gopher Hole: You are playing at Minnetonka this season. What are the expectations for you guys?

Delshon Strickland: I attended a few open gyms this summer. They went well. They have a lot of shooters. Kick the ball out. Pretty strong inside with a few big men returning. We are looking forward to having a good run this year in the conference and hopefully, make it out of sections.

Gopher Hole: I know that you were at Holy Angels last season with AAU teammate Jordan Dembley. They had a coaching change with Larry McKenzie moving to Minneapolis North. Was that the main reason you decided to leave there?

Delshon Strickland: Yes. Coach McKenzie and I had a really good relationship as well with Jordan. Jordan felt that Osseo was a better fit for him at the point guard position. Minnetonka needed a "2-guard" and I just went there.

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

Delshon Strickland: Being more vocal on the floor, ball handling and just being a bigger leader.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?

Delshon Strickland: I talk to Coach Young a lot. I used to go up there in the summer, like in June and work out with Rashad (Vaughn) and (former Cooper and current Findlay Prep assistant coach) Pete Kaffey.

Gopher Hole: Is that a school that you are still considering?

Delshon Strickland: For sure. We are just looking forward to seeing what Coach Pitino can do this year with the team.

Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for the home state school, if that opportunity came up?

Delshon Strickland: It is always good to pick up that home state offer. Just to be able to play in front of people you have been playing your entire high school career. It would be fun. A good experience.
 


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>At the Barn for this Maroon vs. Gold scrimmage&#55356;&#57280;</p>— Delshon Strickland (@DelStrickland_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelStrickland_/statuses/389116132810326016">October 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Go Gophers!!
 

I love it. Minnetonka needed a 2 guard, so I just went there. If you ever wonder why there are so many transfers in college, the answer is simple. It starts early.
 

I like Delshon, but high school is not intended to be for a student to transfer to a city they don't even live in or next to just because their basketball team has a need at a certain position, or because the coach at the high school you currently attend left. If you want to do that, then attend Prep School.
 


GameDay said:
I like Delshon, but high school is not intended to be for a student to transfer to a city they don't even live in or next to just because their basketball team has a need at a certain position, or because the coach at the high school you currently attend left. If you want to do that, then attend Prep School.
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While I agree with you I believe this is part of the discussion about telling these kids what they can and cannot do because it benefits us as basketball fans rather than them as prospective professional athletes/college students. We can go on and on about the morals and other lessons learned from building something on your own, or being taught a "hard lesson", but I don't think it applies here.

If I go to school in the inner city and decide that Edina has a better biology program, I'm free to utilize "school choice" and attend a better institution as long as I find a way to get to and from school. I would be praised for being such a forward thinker and for being concerned with my future and wanting to better myself.

Delshon, while we may not like the way he answered the question, is doing the exact same thing (or that is the way I'm interpreting his actions). If he felt he would have a better ability to showcase his talents at 'tonka and he can get there unaided by the state/school system, more power to him. While I don't like it, that doesn't matter.

We as a society need to accept that this upcoming generation thrives on choices, and not being told what to do rather telling what they are going to do. I'm in distribution, and this has become more and more evident that generations past saw what was offered and made a choice, where as now, customers see what is offered and if what they want isn't available they go elsewhere or whine that their preference isn't made available to them.
 

I have no problem with Delshon going to a different school for basketball reasons. At the end of the day it is going to be his basketball skills that gets him a full ride to attend college, so why not attend a school that enhances that opportunity.
 

I think in a different year when we didn't have 4 of the top 100 prospects in the state Delshon would be getting more attention.
 

Let me get this right.

He lives in Minnetonka, was attending a private school in Richfield, and decided to transfer back to a school in the city in which he lives, and people are treating it like there is some big transfer conspiracy going on?
 



As a holy angels alum its a little interesting to hear athletes that are transferring to other schools. In the interview it mentions dembley going to osseo. When I was there it seemed more students would transfer there not out of. I suppose that could happen though with Mckenzie leaving. I agree its up to the students to have the choice.
 

I don't think it is a controversy, I just think it is funny. My kids go to Minnetonka and I like how they are proactive in filling the roster. If you can't recruit kids to Minnetonka HS, you should get out of the business.
 

The bit about Pete Kaffey caught my eye. And if I recall correctly, Vaughn and Strickland are friends. Interesting.

Bringing them in together makes some sense. Vaughn starts for one or two years, and Strickland's ready to fill his shoes when he leaves.

I continue to be confused by the Carlos Morris situation (high interest, but no commitment and apparently no visits scheduled) and wonder whether it's us or him that's waiting on something.
 

WanderingGopher said:
The bit about Pete Kaffey caught my eye. And if I recall correctly, Vaughn and Strickland are friends. Interesting.

Bringing them in together makes some sense. Vaughn starts for one or two years, and Strickland's ready to fill his shoes when he leaves.

I continue to be confused by the Carlos Morris situation (high interest, but no commitment and apparently no visits scheduled) and wonder whether it's us or him that's waiting on something.
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He said he wasn't going to commit until he visited UAB because he promised them he would. He hasn't visited yet, therefore, no commitment.
 



For people that are familiar with Strickland, how would he compare to Joe Coleman? They look to be about the same size at this point in their careers, but Strickland seems to be a better shooter and all around guard.
 

MadtownGopher said:
For people that are familiar with Strickland, how would he compare to Joe Coleman? They look to be about the same size at this point in their careers, but Strickland seems to be a better shooter and all around guard.
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He's not nearly as strong or physical as Coleman, but a little more skilled. His shot looks pretty good, but it's never been consistent. I'd say it's only a little better than Coleman's. Little better ball handler. Not as aggressive. Doesn't get to the line as much. I think he has more upside, but also a lower floor if that makes sense. Seems like a good candidate to go the prep school route where he can really work on his jumper and get a better offer to play at a higher level. Like watching him play, but I don't think he deserves a Gopher offer unless he improves a lot in a short amount of time.
 

Coleman could go to the rack better in a open flowing game no doubt. Coleman also was stronger. Delshon is quicker, shoots better, better handles, and better vision. This is my opinion after seeing him play a handful of games only. Granted sometimes there is not much D played in the summer schedule.

Couple of guys I sat next to thought he has improved in many areas over the last year.
 

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