BleedGopher
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Big profile per Marcus:
Richard Pitino stared in awe at the hundreds of fans lining the hallway outside of the St. Raymond locker room after Isaiah Washington’s final high school basketball game.
Kids, teenagers, adults — all waiting for the new Prince of New York City basketball to emerge. Some fans were lucky enough to get their hands on purple “Just Jelly” custom T-shirts, honoring the nickname for the flashy finger-roll layup he has perfected, given away for Washington to sign. It was Senior Day, likely their last chance to see the celebrity point guard in the Bronx before he left for the University of Minnesota.
Unlike any Gophers recruit before him — perhaps in any sport — Washington has arrived in Minneapolis this summer with the fame and fanfare of a social-media superstar. And less than four months before his expected Gophers debut, St. Raymond’s all-time leading scorer is driving the already substantial buzz around his style and abilities even higher with riveting summer-league play.
Pitino calls Washington a throwback New York City point guard, comparing his showmanship to legends such as Kenny Anderson, Sebastian Telfair and Stephon Marbury. Byers agreed.
“He’s the next one,” Byers said. “New York City adores Isaiah Washington. They love the kid. They support the kid everywhere he goes. Not only has he tore up the AAU circuit, but all the high level tournaments here in New York City. … Right now, New York City belongs to him. They’re going to follow him. Minnesota has basically gained a whole new spectrum of fans with Isaiah going there.”
It’s up to Pitino to make sure the attention on Washington and #jellyfam hype doesn’t disrupt chemistry for a team facing lofty expectations.
“I’ve got no problem with that coming to Minnesota,” Pitino said. “I think it’s awesome. It’s brought great awareness to basketball. People love it. … But if he tries to do one of those layups at Michigan State and it gets punched into the student section, we’re going to have to have a conversation with him about it. He knows that. And I told him, ‘Isaiah when you come here, people are going to know who you are. That’s a good a thing. Handle it the right way, and hopefully you play here, have a great career and go on one day to play for money and market yourself even more.’ ”
http://www.startribune.com/isaiah-w...sketball-a-recruit-like-none-other/436072533/
Go Gophers!!
Richard Pitino stared in awe at the hundreds of fans lining the hallway outside of the St. Raymond locker room after Isaiah Washington’s final high school basketball game.
Kids, teenagers, adults — all waiting for the new Prince of New York City basketball to emerge. Some fans were lucky enough to get their hands on purple “Just Jelly” custom T-shirts, honoring the nickname for the flashy finger-roll layup he has perfected, given away for Washington to sign. It was Senior Day, likely their last chance to see the celebrity point guard in the Bronx before he left for the University of Minnesota.
Unlike any Gophers recruit before him — perhaps in any sport — Washington has arrived in Minneapolis this summer with the fame and fanfare of a social-media superstar. And less than four months before his expected Gophers debut, St. Raymond’s all-time leading scorer is driving the already substantial buzz around his style and abilities even higher with riveting summer-league play.
Pitino calls Washington a throwback New York City point guard, comparing his showmanship to legends such as Kenny Anderson, Sebastian Telfair and Stephon Marbury. Byers agreed.
“He’s the next one,” Byers said. “New York City adores Isaiah Washington. They love the kid. They support the kid everywhere he goes. Not only has he tore up the AAU circuit, but all the high level tournaments here in New York City. … Right now, New York City belongs to him. They’re going to follow him. Minnesota has basically gained a whole new spectrum of fans with Isaiah going there.”
It’s up to Pitino to make sure the attention on Washington and #jellyfam hype doesn’t disrupt chemistry for a team facing lofty expectations.
“I’ve got no problem with that coming to Minnesota,” Pitino said. “I think it’s awesome. It’s brought great awareness to basketball. People love it. … But if he tries to do one of those layups at Michigan State and it gets punched into the student section, we’re going to have to have a conversation with him about it. He knows that. And I told him, ‘Isaiah when you come here, people are going to know who you are. That’s a good a thing. Handle it the right way, and hopefully you play here, have a great career and go on one day to play for money and market yourself even more.’ ”
http://www.startribune.com/isaiah-w...sketball-a-recruit-like-none-other/436072533/
Go Gophers!!
