The Gophers have made Trier a top target for more than a year.
Allonzo Trier, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who announced earlier today that he is transferring to Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep from Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian, is one of the nation’s top scorers. Trier leads all scorers in the EYBL with 29.4 points per game (6.9 points more than the second leading scorer).
Trier shot 47.1% from the field, 31.6% from three-point range and 88.5% from the free throw line for Athletes First, who finished 12-4 to advance to the Peach Jam in July.
Trier received a scholarship offer from the Gophers months ago and has since seen his offer list grow as it now includes Louisville, UCLA, UCONN, Kansas and many others.
GopherHole recently caught up with Trier to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You have been playing extremely well throughout the EYBL series. How pleased are you with your own individual and team’s play so far this spring?
Allonzo Trier: I think that I am doing a great job of leading these young guys. We have the youngest team in the league. Seven of our eight guys are sophomores, so we have the youngest team in history of playing. I am just trying to do the best I can to lead us and the best I can to help us get some wins.
Gopher Hole: You are having to score a lot, but you need to do that to help your team win. Is that something you know that you have to do whatever it takes to win?
Allonzo Trier: Yes, definitely. I know that it is important for me to be effective offensively, whether it is scoring the basketball or making teams come and run doubles at me. It makes it a lot easier on them when they are playing four on five and they are able to make plays for each other.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are going out to Colorado Springs to try out for the USA National team. Have you been out there before?
Allonzo Trier: I haven’t been out there yet. This will be my first time.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to possibly represent your country?
Allonzo Trier: It would be a great honor. It is a really prestigious thing to do. Not many people have a chance to do it and it is just a blessing.
Gopher Hole: I know that your recruitment is blowing up, especially after coaches could watch you in the open period in April. What schools are you hearing from the most right now?
Allonzo Trier: Arizona, Louisville, UConn, Baylor, Kansas, Memphis, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Georgetown and Maryland. That is just what I can think of now.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought about trying to visit some schools in the next couple of months?
Allonzo Trier: That is definitely something that I have been waiting to get this session over and sit down with my mother. We have had some talks over the phone, but we want to sit down and figure out when we want to narrow this list down and be set to make a decision.
Gopher Hole: I know that you played at Montrose Christian this past season, but what is your hometown?
Allonzo Trier: I am from Seattle. My mom still lives in Oklahoma City, so that is where I go when I see my mother.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the Gophers? What are they saying to you?
Allonzo Trier: Just great things. They want me to come and be their franchise player out of the program and they want to build around me and they think one of the key pieces that can make that program a national contender.
Gopher Hole: Do you know much about Minnesota? Did you get a chance to watch them on TV?
Allonzo Trier: I watched them a little bit. I spoke with Kimani (Young) a lot of times. He told me who they were playing and I did my best to keep my eye out.
Gopher Hole: Coach Pitino is obviously the coach here and you are being recruited by his dad at Louisville. Do they keep the talk focused on their programs?
Allonzo Trier: I’m not sure what they say about each other. I know that they talk a lot. They don’t bad-mouth each other (laughing). They are both great. They are both for each other. They try to help each other out in recruitment and things like that, but they are fighting over me right now.
Gopher Hole: What things are you working on to continue to improve yourself as a player right now?
Allonzo Trier: Continue to be effective. Continuing to make reads out of doubles and seeing different defenses. Almost like a quarterback. I am trying to do a better job of being a rebounder for my team.