Amir Coffey is the Gophers top target for the class of 2016.
Amir Coffey, a junior wing from Hopkins, is considered the state’s top prospect in the Class of 2016. Coffey helped lead the Royals to 30-2 record this past season as they finished runner-up in the Class AAAA Tournament, losing to Lakeville North in the title game. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Burnsville a few weeks ago.
Gopher Hole.com caught up with Coffey to learn the latest on his recruitment and the injury.
Gopher Hole: Obviously a tough injury. Have you heard from most of the coaches that have recruiting you?
Amir Coffey: Yes. I heard from Miami, Marquette, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State. They are still telling me that I am their number one guy and this changes nothing. I still have my scholarship, so that is great.
Gopher Hole: Does that make you feel a little bit better? I know that it is tough and you were really looking forward to this year.
Amir Coffey: It does make it feel better, knowing that they are still with you.
Gopher Hole: You bounced back the other year from a broken leg a lot sooner than many people expected. Does that give you a little more hope because you have had to battle back before?
Amir Coffey: Definitely. I actually came in a month and a half early from my broken leg, so that is definitely what I plan to do. I am going at my physical therapy hard and do everything that the doctor says for me to do. I’ll probably put in a little bit extra so I can try to come back.
Gopher Hole: What is the expected time when you would ready to return?
Amir Coffey: June.
Gopher Hole: So, hopefully you would be able to play in the July recruiting period?
Amir Coffey: Right.
Gopher Hole: Is that something that you are really focused on to try and get back because a lot of the schools that are recruiting you wouldn’t change their recruitment too much?
Amir Coffey: I am supposed to be back in June, but I am trying to get back as soon as possible, so I am just going to do my physical therapy and work really hard within that and try to get back as soon as possible.
Gopher Hole: I know that you were counting on being a leader this year. Does that make it even tougher because I know that you are a competitive kid and you want to be out there? Is it hard to sit and watch?
Amir Coffey: It is very hard. Just like when I broke my leg. I am a competitive guy, so it is hard to sit on the sideline, but I am going to support my team and I’ll be there with them through everything.
Gopher Hole: You can obviously do upper body work. What things are you going to be trying to work on?
Amir Coffey: Right now, I have talked to some doctors and they are working on my flexibility and bending and straightening my leg. Working on my flexibility and little stuff on my leg right now until after the surgery and afterwards, we can really start getting into the physical therapy. Just doing whatever the doctor says and get there as soon as possible.
Gopher Hole: What exactly happened with the injury?
Amir Coffey: I was going to go up for a rebound and Vinnie Shahid fell. His body fell into the front of my leg. My knee kind of buckled.
Gopher Hole: Do you have any plans to make any visits?
Amir Coffey: I haven’t talked to my parents or anything, but I am sure that we will start to make plans, especially now. Try to go on some visits and try to narrow down my list now, especially with the injury and maybe make a decision soon or maybe not. That is something that we will probably talk about.