Q&A: Florida Guard Cedric Hankerson Has Gophers Offer and U Visit Upcoming

[GopherHole Staff]

Florida Guard Cedric Hankerson Has Gophers Offer and U Visit Upcoming
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/169349?referrer_id=331171


Cedric Hankerson, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard from Miami (FL) Coral Reef, averaged 22.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game as a junior and shot 43% from the field, 29% from three-point range and 77% from the line. The Barracudas finished 20-7, losing to Miami Columbus 75-69 in the state playoffs. Hankerson, who is also an excellent student, has received interest from several top programs, including Minnesota and plans to visit Dinkytown next month.

GopherHole.com recently caught up with Hankerson and his Gold Coast AAU coach Jarrod Lazurus to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Hankerson played alongside Ransom Everglades guard Sam Singer in the backcourt for the Gold Coast AAU program this spring and summer. Minnesota had offered Singer, but he recently released a list of his top eleven schools and he did not include the Gophers.

Hankerson is the younger brother of former Alabama guard Charles Hankerson, who transferred to Wyoming after the 2011-12 season. His father, Charles Sr, played basketball at Hampton and is second all-time in assists in school history and helped coach the Gold Coast program.

Lazurus said that Hankerson is hearing from a strong list of schools.

“Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Boston University, Tulane and Wyoming, said Lazurus. “Hankerson is very good in the class room. He is a high academic student-athlete, so academics are going to play a big part.”

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on schools you are hearing from right now?

Cedric Hankerson: I’ve gotten offers from Minnesota. I picked up that new offer. I am planning on visiting Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Boston University, Tulane and some of the Ivy Leagues (Penn, Yale, Brown and Harvard). I received interest from Marquette, Oklahoma State, Boston College and some others. It is going pretty well.

Gopher Hole: That has to make you feel pretty proud.

Cedric Hankerson: Yes. I am extremely excited.

Gopher Hole: When did you first start hearing from the Gophers?

Cedric Hankerson: As soon as I got back, they offered me a scholarship, so I was extremely excited.

Gopher Hole: Had you heard much from them before that?

Cedric Hankerson: I was in contact with the assistant coach (Coach Ron Jirsa) before I got back and I talked to him when I got back and he told me that they really enjoyed watching me and I talked to Tubby Smith and they said that they would offer me a scholarship.

Gopher Hole: What do you know about Minnesota?

Cedric Hankerson: I know that it has a very good business program, the Carlson Business school. I want to major in the business area, so that is why they are pretty high on my list.

Gopher Hole: Have you set up any dates for your visits yet?

Cedric Hankerson: So far, I am visiting Minnesota the weekend of September 7th. I am visiting Boston University the weekend of September 14th and then Virginia Tech the weekend of September 21st.

Gopher Hole: What is going to be the main thing that is going to make you pick School A over School B or C?

Cedric Hankerson: How I enjoy the environment of the school, really and how the academics really connect with me. It is really whether I get a good feeling for the atmosphere and the environment of the school.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from Wyoming? Your brother will sit out the season at Wyoming after transferring from Alabama.

Cedric Hankerson: Yes. They are still looking at me pretty hard. They are one of the schools that I might visit after the three that I already have confirmed.

Gopher Hole: How does your brother like it so far?

Cedric Hankerson: He says he loves it. Great people. Great environment. He is really enjoying himself.

Gopher Hole: It sounds like from the schools that you are thinking about visiting that being close to home is not a big factor. Is that pretty accurate?

Cedric Hankerson: Yes. Not at all. I am just going to take the best opportunity for me. The opportunity that I feel most comfortable.

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

Cedric Hankerson: My pull-up game. My pull-up game right now is good, but I want to get it to the next level.

Gopher Hole: How about your high school team? How did you do last year and what are the expectations for the upcoming season?

Cedric Hankerson: Last year, we won districts for only the second time in school’s history. Since my brother won a state championship three years, I want to get one before I leave.

Gopher Hole: Have you talked to your brother about the possibility of playing together?

Cedric Hankerson: We have always wanted to play together, but my thoughts are up in the air right now.

Gopher Hole: Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

Cedric Hankerson: I took both. I got a 25 on the ACT and on the SAT, I got a 1750.

Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a player?

Cedric Hankerson: My first step. My quickness. My ability to get to the basket and get my teammates involved.

 

[GoFerit]

Thanks, Chris, for the interview.

Does anyone know how many schollies for the 2013 class would be expended if all the offers Tubby has made were accepted?

 

[coolhandgopher]

Looks like another high character kid that Tubby likes to recruit. His shooting percentages seem quite low for a stud high school player, from looking at the numbers and also viewing the bit of video, seems to prefer driving to the hole. In the video, he's the very first player profiled:

 

[Jon]

Thanks, Chris, for the interview.

Does anyone know how many schollies for the 2013 class would be expended if all the offers Tubby has made were accepted?

We have 4 2013 scholarships but I think we will save some for the 2014 Minnesota class since if we used all 4 2013 we would have only 2 for the 2014 class

Seniors on scholarship Mbakwe, Welch, Williams, and Ingram

Juniors on scholarship Austin Hollins and Maverick

 

[Blackhammer]

A smart kid who can't shoot. You can never have enough of those.

 

[Gold Vision]

In that video he is doing everything he can to not shoot a left handed layup. Could be a bizarro Chip Armelin.

 

[THE SCOUT!]

shoot? 29% from 3's in highschool is poor shooting , 43% from the field is fair shooting, 77% from the line is pretty good. THESCOUT!

 

[Johnnyboy18]

Hopefully we can get one of the Chicago kids to commit before he does lol.

 

[gopherMD]

Armelin II.

 

[rychart45]

Plan E or F? I can't keep track.

 

[Atl Gopher]

Name one year where at least one under classman did not leave our program and for that matter most programs. Tubby has to assume that he will have 5 spots and if he fills 4 then 3 or 4 the next year.

 

[RoyalGopher]

Prospect Profile: Cedric Hankerson

Coral Reef guard Cedric Hankerson is quietly having one of the best seasons of any player in the state. The 6'4, versatile perimeter prospect is averaging 22.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest for the 17-6 Barracudas. Hankerson has made steady improvement the last few years and through his hard work has made a name for himself in South Florida and with college coaches around the country.
"I have improved my athleticism, including my speed, agility and vertical jump," said Hankerson who at his size has a unique skill set, similar to that of his brother Charles Hankerson Jr. who starred at Coral Reef and now plays at Alabama. To go along with his on the court ability, the junior guard is also a very high level student who is being pursued by some of the best academic schools in the country such as Harvard and the majority of the Ivy and Patriot Leagues in addition to many mid-major programs. "The most important factor in my decision is the academic standing of the school," added Hankerson.
He will join Ransom Everglades guard Sam Singer in the backcourt for the Gold Coast AAU program this offseason and has goals in mind for the following year, "I'm trying to help my team win another state championship like my brother did and improve my game enough to earn a college scholarship."
College coaches will surely take notice of Hankerson during the reinstituted Spring evaluation period and he is excited about going through the recruiting process, "I'm looking for a program where I can establish a good relationship with the coaching staff and has a style of play that fits my abilities.

 

[MaroonGopher]

Facts: Nationally/regionally unranked recruit that one respected recruiting database (Scout.com) has as a 2-star recruit. Shot 29% -- yes -- 29% from 3-pointers last season. Major offers from Minnesota and Virginia Tech.

Opinion: More games have been won by a guy being a super skilled basketball player than a guy being super smart person. Also, 29% from deep is not acceptable for a high major guard. Doesn't look like he's a difference maker. This program needs difference makers. Dre, Rodney and Mbakwe won't be around forever.