Q&A: J.P. Macura Says He'll Spend A Lot of Time With Gophers In August

[GopherHole Staff]

J.P. Macura Says He'll Spend A Lot of Time With Gophers Players In August
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/273663?referrer_id=388419

J.P. Macura, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound wing from Lakeville North, recently received a scholarship offer from Minnesota and helped lead D1 Minnesota to the 17-and-under title in their own tournament. Head coach Richard Pitino watched Macura at the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis and at Bloomington Jefferson.

Macura was named second team College Basketball News’ All-Metro and first team Star Tribune All-Metro after averaging more than 25 points per game in his first season of varsity action. Macura helped lead the Panthers to the Class AAAA state tournament this past season.

GopherHole.com caught up with Macura Sunday to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: You had some blowout games and some close contests this weekend as you won the 17-and-under title. How do you feel that you guys played?

J.P. Macura: I think that we played a lot better than we did the past weekends. I think that we are coming together as a team. I think that we are on our way to Vegas in good terms and I think that we are going to be very good. I think that we are going to come together even more in Vegas and make a run at the tournament. I think that by winning this tournament, I think that everyone knows that we can play together and we can win together, so everyone has just got to trust one another for Vegas and I think that we are going to make a run for the tournament.

Gopher Hole: Since I last interviewed you, you have picked up some new offers like Minnesota and Miami of Florida. Who else has offered?

J.P. Macura: NC State, Purdue and Texas Tech.

Gopher Hole: Most of those coaches were here to watch you. Do you notice them?

J.P. Macura: Yes. I notice them, but I try not to focus on them too much. I just try to play the game and not worry about who is on the track.

Gopher Hole: How about your elbow? How is that felling (Macura suffered a bursted bursa sack)

J.P. Macura: It is doing a lot better. I iced it a ton yesterday and I am going to ice it tonight and hopefully it is going to be gone pretty soon. By the time we get to Vegas, it will be out of there

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?

J.P. Macura: They said that they have a really high interest and I could fit well in their program. During August, after the dead period, I am going to spend a lot of time with their players and just get a feel for the University.

Gopher Hole: Have you thought about trying to make some visits before high school starts?

J.P. Macura: I haven’t thought about any particular schools yet, bit early in August, I am going to try to take some unofficial visits, because my mom is a flight attendant and I should get out to all those schools. In late August or September, take some official visits and try to decide on what school I want to go to.

Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for the home state school and to play in front of your family and friends?

J.P. Macura: It would mean a lot. It is good for everybody – my family and my friends because it is close to home and it is really convenient for them to come watch me, so I think it is good. .

Gopher Hole: Did you grow up a Gopher fan?

J.P. Macura: Not really. Not too much. I liked them a little bit when I was a kid, but it wasn’t too much.

Gopher Hole: I know that you visited Butler a couple of times. Where do things stand with them with the coaching change?

J.P. Macura: I am still very interested in Butler. Coach Miller, the head coach now. I had a great relationship with him before he was the head coach and I think that I still have a high interest in them.

Gopher Hole: Are you still pretty open to new schools if a school saw you here or in Indianapolis or Vegas?

J.P. Macura: Yes. Definitely.

Gopher Hole: What other schools are you hearing from besides the schools that have recently offered?

J.P. Macura: Oklahoma and Texas.

 

[GopherSteak]

Well it seems that he's willing to go anywhere and has no allegiance to the U. Good for him. I'd be the same. Go where you want and feel most comfortable. I hope it's the U

 

[MadtownGopher]

I have a feeling he'll commit to the U in August.

 

[Goldy Gopher]

I think he will end up being the first Gopher commit for 2014, if he decides to look elsewhere I would bet it would be to Butler.

 

[GopherSteak]

If he commits to the U he will get decent playing time year 1.

 

[diehard]

He wants to spend a lot of time with the Gophers in August to make sure the U is the right fit. Good plan. It also locks him in. August verbal.

 

[EG#9]

Well it seems that he's willing to go anywhere and has no allegiance to the U. Good for him. I'd be the same. Go where you want and feel most comfortable. I hope it's the U

I don't see why you think that's a good thing. One thing that has stood out to me about this class of kids is nobody grew up rooting for the Gophers to the point where they would take a scholarship to Minnesota over any other school. It's a bad sign for the program (and says a lot about marketing, community outreach, lack of on court results, and maybe even the local media if you are so inclined) that we offer 4 in state kids and none of them just want to be a Gopher. Maybe it's an outdated concept, but I grew up a Gopher fan and would have taken a Gopher offer over any school in the nation provided the opportunity was the same (ie I wouldn't choose to backup player X at Minnesota over starting at Georgetown). If Minnesota had just one of Tyus/Rashad/Reid committed at this point, think how differently they could spend their resources (time mostly) and how much more likely it would be that we'd end up with a great class.

I don't blame any of the kids for looking around and/or having no particular allegiance to the "U", I put blame on those people (whoever they are) that have contributed to putting the program in that spot.

 

[WanderingGopher]

I don't see why you think that's a good thing. One thing that has stood out to me about this class of kids is nobody grew up rooting for the Gophers to the point where they would take a scholarship to Minnesota over any other school. It's a bad sign for the program (and says a lot about marketing, community outreach, lack of on court results, and maybe even the local media if you are so inclined) that we offer 4 in state kids and none of them just want to be a Gopher. Maybe it's an outdated concept, but I grew up a Gopher fan and would have taken a Gopher offer over any school in the nation provided the opportunity was the same (ie I wouldn't choose to backup player X at Minnesota over starting at Georgetown). If Minnesota had just one of Tyus/Rashad/Reid committed at this point, think how differently they could spend their resources (time mostly) and how much more likely it would be that we'd end up with a great class.

I don't blame any of the kids for looking around and/or having no particular allegiance to the "U", I put blame on those people (whoever they are) that have contributed to putting the program in that spot.

+1

Just about every generation of Gopher fans have had some "glory years" period, but not these kids being recruited right now -- they were too young to remember 14,000 people filling Williams Arena just to celebrate a final four berth, etc. Program fell a long way following the Gangelgate sanctions and Monson years; temporary revival of energy when Tubby was hired but that little spike wasn't sustained. The good thing is, in college basketball things can be rebuilt pretty quickly by a great coach who is energized and engaged.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

The U of M is not the premier sports attraction in Minnesota. Kids here think of UM as being a minor program behind the Vikings, Twins, Wild, and Timberwolves. Even college sports fans think of the U as a hockey school more than a BB school. The media cover the pro sports far more than they do UM. Prospects who seek attention are less attracted to UM than to schools in which the university is the top program in town.

We can't do anything about this. But what we can do is target prospects who are good athletes but with the attendant characteristics of good citizenship, good academic achievement, strong desire to stay with a program for four or five years, and willingness to play team ball. Let those who attend college merely to audition for the NBA for one or two years sign elsewhere. We have a little start on this strategy already with, among others, guys like Mbakwe, Sampson, Hoffarber -- and Gray in football. Team players, stayed through graduation.

Build a classy program with good kids.