New Prague lost to Austin High School in the Section 1AAA championship.
Paul Friendshuh, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound sophomore from New Prague, is another top prospect from the loaded Class of 2014. Friendshuh has helped lead the Trojans to a 19-9 mark as they faced Austin last Friday at the Rochester Civic Center for the Section 1AAA championship. He is hearing from several Midwest schools, including the Gophers and attended their regular season finale versus Nebraska. GopherHole.com caught up with Friendshuh to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: How pleased are you with your individual play this season?
Paul Friendshuh: I am a sixth man off the bench. I am pretty pleased with that. Just a role player. Do anything that I can to help my team win. That is the only important thing.
Gopher Hole: You have three senior frontcourt starters. So you are expected to have a much bigger role next season. Is that something that you are looking forward to?
Paul Friendshuh: Yes and no. I’ll be starting and whatnot and it will be fun, but I’ll miss them. They are a fun group of guys and they are fun to be with.
Gopher Hole: You also have a 6-foot-7 sophomore who played mostly JV, but he looks like he is a prospect as well. Is it nice to have another big guy to go along with you?
Paul Friendshuh: Yes. Our seniors this year are really good on the perimeter as well and so you can be more lenient to play outside and in.
Gopher Hole: You have a reputation of being a good shooter. What do you see as your strengths as a player?
Paul Friendshuh: Mainly just my lankyness and getting up and down the floor. Normally, I can run really well. I sprained my ankle and I have taped it up. When I’m not (taped up), I feel that I can run more.
Gopher Hole: What things are you continuing to work on to improve yourself?
Paul Friendshuh: Right now, my biggest weakness is my strength. I need to get bigger and stronger in the weight room and other than that, work on all aspects of my game.
Gopher Hole: You are playing for the Minnesota Pump N Run program this spring and summer. What are the expectations?
Paul Friendshuh: I know several teammates on the team. Three of them will be from my old AAU team, the Fury. I am looking forward to playing with Pump N Run this year. I know a lot of guys on the team and it will be fun.
Gopher Hole: Does that make it nice that you at least know a few of guys and some of the coaches as well, which should make it a little easier transition?
Paul Friendshuh: It helps compete and knowing the guys should mean good chemistry on the team, which is important for winning games and getting far.
Gopher Hole: What schools are you hearing from right now?
Paul Friendshuh: Just the local ones. Northern Iowa, NDSU, SDSU, Wisconsin and Minnesota. I got a few e-mails from Lehigh right before we started our tournament before they beat Duke.
Gopher Hole: Had you heard much about Lehigh before their upset win?
Paul Friendshuh: we were on their list. I existed to them (laughing). Being on the East Coast, it is tough to visit them.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Paul Friendshuh: They are focused on their tournament right now, the N.I.T. I might do a couple of Gopher camps this summer.
Gopher Hole: Did you have a chance to go to any college games?
Paul Friendshuh: I’ve been to UNI, Wisconsin, NDSU, SDSU and Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from Wisconsin?
Paul Friendshuh: I went there for a basketball game.
Gopher Hole: You attended the Gopher game against Nebraska. What was that experience like?
Paul Friendshuh: It was great. The Gophers have a good program. They have a good base. Hopefully, they can play better the next couple of years. It was fun.
Gopher Hole: Had you had a chance to go to many Gopher games in the past?
Paul Friendshuh: That was one of the first games that I have been to at Williams with the Gophers playing in it. Obviously, I have seen them play on television, but it was fun to be there.
Gopher Hole: You have to be pretty pleased about getting college looks so early.
Paul Friendshuh: Definitely. It is fun, but it is not a given. I have to keep working on my game.
Gopher Hole: Does that motivate you to work even harder?
Paul Friendshuh: I think the most important is that it helps motivation my team when they see those recruiters here, they pick up their game and get in the gym in the offseason.
Gopher Hole: Do you come from a basketball family?
Paul Friendshuh: Not really. My older brother is a rower at Wisconsin, but other than that there are not other athletes in the immediate family.
Gopher Hole: Is that how Wisconsin knew about you?
Paul Friendshuh: I’m not sure. It may have been. I’m not exactly sure.