Recruiting

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MRJ said:
Their identity at the moment is not being a good team. That's what they've been since Coyle hired Whalen. Whether she has the chops to turn it around remains the question.
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There is nothing to turn around. The talent is there, the coaching is not. They should have hired the Drake staff after today's game. Drake staff would definitely make changes to style of play and roster.
 

MOGopher said:
There is nothing to turn around. The talent is there, the coaching is not. They should have hired the Drake staff after today's game. Drake staff would definitely make changes to style of play and roster.
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You do know that the pro insurrectionists MN basketball bobos will be knocking at your door next because of your blasphemy, right.
 

Belzx009 said:
Ben Johnson has a proven Dave Thorson on his staff. That is one hell of a coach who knows how to flat out win. He is a defensive mastermind. MBB are not 10-1 without him. With that said I’ve questioned Whalens staff from day 1. With her being young and inexperienced, she needed/s an assistant coach who is a proven winner at some level.
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Bingo.
Ben Johnson's smartest move of all was bringing in Dave Thorson.. They would not be where they are today without Dave's leadership. Keep in mind many of these players from MN were in awe of what Dave did at DeLasale. When he talks players listen. Ben is the face, Dave is the mastermind in my limited knowledge opinion.
 

MNGirlsHoops said:
Bingo.
Ben Johnson's smartest move of all was bringing in Dave Thorson.. They would not be where they are today without Dave's leadership. Keep in mind many of these players from MN were in awe of what Dave did at DeLasale. When he talks players listen. Ben is the face, Dave is the mastermind in my limited knowledge opinion.
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I love the hiring of Thorson but Ben Johnson is more than the face of Gopher basketball. To be honest, he's actually not a great interview, he is considerably more substance than style. But your point is spot on, Whalen's teams reek of a coach who doesn't know what they're doing.

Take PJ Fleck, he constantly talks about how much he learned under Schiano, Tressel, and even Kirk Ciarocca. Because Whalen didn't have that time to learn those things, she really needs another set of coaches around her to handle some of the preparation/management/non-basketball related issues where she clearly struggles.
 

As of right now, here is the known offers/players who to date still considering gophers for classes of 2023-2026

Few notes*
-Rumored Taylor Woodson and Tessa Johnson down to their finalist lists. Not sure all the schools on those lists but both are still heavily considering Gophers.

-Logan Nissley does in fact have an offer, as it was unknown for sure for awhile.

2023:

Offered/In-state:

Taylor Woodson-Hopkins-5’11 Forward ESPN Ranked #27 (out of Super 60)

Tessa Johnson-St. Michael/Albertville-5’9 Guard

Out of State Offers:

Kymora Johnson, 5’7 G, St. Anne’s-Belfield School (VA) ESPN Ranked 32 (out of Super 60)

Jasmine Brown, 5’9 G, Joliet Catholic HS (IL) ESPN Ranked #44 (out of Super 60)

Eve Fiala, 6’4 C, Indiana HS (PA) ESPN Ranked #54 (out of Super 60)

Janae Kent, 6’1 W, Oak Forest HS (IL) ESPN Ranked #57 (out of Super 60)

Laila Hull, 6’1 F, Zionsville (IN) ESPN Ranked #58 (out of Super 60)

Audi Crooks, 6’3 P, Bishop Garrigan HS (IA) ESPN Ranked #59 (out of Super 60)

Logan Nissley, 5’10 G, Century HS (ND)

Alyssa Latham, 6’1 F, Homewood-Flossmoor HS (IL)

2024:

Offered/In-State:

Olivia Olson-Benilde-St. Margaret’s-6’0 G ESPN Ranked #3 (out of Terrific 25)

Alivia “Liv” McGill, 5’7 G, Hopkins HS ESPN Ranked #11 (out of Terrific 25)

Out of State Offers:

Blanca Thomas, 6’5 P, Charlotte Catholic HS (NC) ESPN Ranked #6 (out of Terrific 25)

Britt Prince, 5’11 G, Elkhorn North HS (NE) ESPN Ranked #10 (out of Terrific 25)

Allie Ziebell, 6’0 W, Neenah HS (WI) ESPN Ranked #13 (out of Terrific 25)

Chloe Spreen, 5’9 G, Bedford North Lawrence (IN) ESPN Ranked #21 (out of Terrific 25)

Tahj Bloom, 6’3 F, Grayslake Community (IL) ESPN Ranked #22 (out of Terrific 25)

Kayl Petersen, 6’0 F, Waupun Area HS (WI)

Reagan Sipla, 6’0 G, St. Charles North HS (IL)

2025:

Offered/In-State

Aaliyah Crump, Minnetonka- 6’0 Wing ESPN Watchlist

Out of State Offers:

ZaKiyah Johnson, 5’11 F/W, Sacred Heart Academy (KY)

2026:

Offered/In-State:

Maddyn Greenway, 5’7 G, Providence Academy

Tori Oehrlein, 5’11 G, Crosby-Ironton

Out of State Offers:

Jenica Lewis, 5’8 G, Johnson HS, (IA)
 


Thanks for compiling this list ! I checked some the original posts after hearing that Ayoka Lee from Byron, MN. just scored 61 points for KSU . I don't remember hearing her name ?
 

GringaGopher said:
Thanks for compiling this list ! I checked some the original posts after hearing that Ayoka Lee from Byron, MN. just scored 61 points for KSU . I don't remember hearing her name ?
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I found this. Looks like she committed before Whalen got here


Lynx​

New member​

MNGirlsHoops said:
Its hard to keep going young and younger, a solid grad transfer or an experienced kid in transfer portal would go a long way. I feel length is what we need like a Kadi, Bello etc., a lean kid that can get out and defend and rebound.
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My dream transfer this offseason would be Ayoka Lee (6’6” center) - another Minnesotan coming back to the state. I think we’ve got a great young group of guards and are very thin / undersized in the post. Ayoka is a redshirt sophomore at Kansas State out of Byron, MN and was Big 12 Freshman of the Year her redshirt freshman season. She signed the fall before Lindsay was hired, and I’d like to see some posts with size to team up with our other options.
 

Lee did not want to play for Stollings. One 2025 player I want the Gophers to recruit that is not listed is Addie Mack.
 




GringaGopher said:
Thanks for compiling this list ! I checked some the original posts after hearing that Ayoka Lee from Byron, MN. just scored 61 points for KSU . I don't remember hearing her name ?
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This is her 4th year at Kstate so she was signed before Whalen was hired. I dont think she was too highly recruited at the time but shes turned into a heck of a player.
 

I saw on Prep Girls Hoops that Laura Hauge (2024) from St. Croix Lutheran has a scholarship offer from the Gophers.
 

I love the Laura Hauge offer!! I’ve watched her many times and she can play!
 




Now that Grace Cumming has been confirmed to have left the team (medically retired) we will have to find another player to sign. I hope they find a tall center with some skills. Maybe we will luckout and Lee will graduate and decide to grad transfer to Minnesota.
 

Ragnor said:
Now that Grace Cumming has been confirmed to have left the team (medically retired) we will have to find another player to sign. I hope they find a tall center with some skills. Maybe we will luckout and Lee will graduate and decide to grad transfer to Minnesota.
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Lee already graduated and is in a graduate program at KSU now despite being labelled a red-shirt junior
 

Damien Cloud said:
Lee already graduated and is in a graduate program at KSU now despite being labelled a red-shirt junior
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Well, she has 5 years to play because of Covid so she can seek another degree anywhere if this will only be her 4th year.
 


whalenfan said:
This is her 4th year at Kstate so she was signed before Whalen was hired. I dont think she was too highly recruited at the time but shes turned into a heck of a player.
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Lee, Czinano and Haiby is a pretty impressive trio from the same recruiting class.
 

I watched a video clip of all the baskets Lee scored in her 61-point outing. A ton of shots from right under the basket. She has some Gustafson and Czinano in her...doesn't seem to put the ball on the floor a lot when not necessary. Credit her teammates for being able to get her the ball down low in the post. Also, some on this board have raved about the new Oklahoma coaching staff (me included), but they had no idea as to how to stop Lee.
 



www.espn.com

Lee, fresh off D-I record, planning K-State return

Despite being eligible age-wise as a junior for the 2022 WNBA draft, Ayoka Lee said Tuesday she plans to return to Kansas State for her senior season.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Mechelle Voepel on Ayoka Lee:

And although she is eligible age-wise as a junior for the 2022 WNBA draft, she said Tuesday she plans to return to the Wildcats for her senior season.

"I'm staying another year," Lee said on a media call. "I really love what I'm doing for school, and I want to finish that education. And I love the program. So that's the plan."

The 6-foot-6 Lee is working on her graduate degree in couples and family therapy, and expects to be finished in 2023.

"Growing up, my mom made a big emphasis on, 'Sports aren't going to last forever. You need to have something else, because it can be taken from you at any moment,'" Lee said. "The master's program I'm in, I just love it. It's definitely something I want to do when sports are done, whenever that is."
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Here's some footage of Aubrey Galvan at Deerfield. Seems solid but she appears 4-6 inches shorter than Whalen in the tweet. I am over short guards unless they are absolutely exceptional. Guards are relatively easy to find. This staff needs to turn up the heat and identify some solid inside players.
 

ecoperson said:
Here's some footage of Aubrey Galvan at Deerfield. Seems solid but she appears 4-6 inches shorter than Whalen in the tweet. I am over short guards unless they are absolutely exceptional. Guards are relatively easy to find. This staff needs to turn up the heat and identify some solid inside players.
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agree 100%.. put the guards on hold, we need a dynamic 3, 4s and 5s otherwise we are right back here next year, we lose Deja who has had some great moments.. We lose Diva, who is solid but not the player she was.. and who knows who transfers out
 

ecoperson said:
Here's some footage of Aubrey Galvan at Deerfield. Seems solid but she appears 4-6 inches shorter than Whalen in the tweet. I am over short guards unless they are absolutely exceptional. Guards are relatively easy to find. This staff needs to turn up the heat and identify some solid inside players.
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Shes also class of 2025 who doesnt have an offer. The staff will invite alot of players to visit, some will end up being targets, some wont. I wouldnt worry much about these types of visits.
 

2023 6'3 Post Audi Crooks and 2024 top rated MN Olivia Olson were both at the game yesterday as well.
 



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