Brock Bertram, who has an offer from Texas Tech, was a recent guest of the Gophers at a football game.
Brock Bertram, a 6-foot-11, junior center from Apple Valley (MN) High, is one of the top players in the state in the Class of 2016. Bertram averaged 11.5 points per game as a second year starter for the 27-2 Eagles, who lost to Cretin-Derham Hall for the Section 3AAAA title game 89-77 in overtime.
Bertram attended a recent Gopher football game and has started to receive increased attention from the home state school.
We caught up with Bertram who talked to Gopher Hole about his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? Where do things stand?
Brock Bertram: I went to visit Iowa a couple of weeks ago. Providence is new. Xavier, Purdue and Colorado.
Gopher Hole: What was the Iowa visit like?
Brock Bertram: It was really fun. I think that it was about three weeks ago. We got to meet everyone and get a good relationship with everyone. Checked out the facilities. Got to check out the campus and met all the players and the coaches and the coaching staff. Starting to get a really good relationship and went to the football game. Overall, a really good visit.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are starting to do some open gyms. Have you had some coaches come up for those?
Brock Bertram: I had Iowa come. Texas Tech is coming tomorrow. Tulsa, I think, is coming. Minnesota has been there. Providence, UNI and Drake.
Gopher Hole: It looks like you have really worked on your body. I know that was one thing that you really wanted to work on getting in even better shape. What things have you been doing?
Brock Bertram: I have been in the weight room with Coach Jadee (Jones) a lot. I have been running track. We’ve all been running track after weight room, which is really benefitting us. I am trying to eat right. Eat the right stuff and try to be active and get rest.
Gopher Hole: What are you up to weight-wise?
Brock Bertram: 240.
Gopher Hole: How about height?
Brock Bertram: 6-11.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that you will continue to grow?
Brock Bertram: I think that I am still going to grow a little bit and get a little bigger.
Gopher Hole: You lost some key seniors like Tyus Jones, Robert Tobroxen and Dennis Austin. What are the expectations for the upcoming season?
Brock Bertram: Same expectations as last year. We lost a couple of players, but we have a lot of player coming up. We are still good. We have a good chemistry and we can finish at the top.
Gopher Hole: You are going to have a bigger role this season. Is that something you are looking forward to?
Brock Bertram: For sure. I am looking forward to that. I have been really trying to pick it up. Be a leader and try to lead by example.
Gopher Hole: Do you still have the one offer, Texas Tech?
Brock Bertram: Still, Texas Tech.
Gopher Hole: What other schools are you hearing from?
Brock Bertram: Iowa, for sure. Tulsa, Texas Tech, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Florida State, a lot.
Gopher Hole: I know that it is still early being only a junior, but when you are looking at schools, do you look at their roster to see what big men they have?
Brock Bertram: Looking to see who is there and how big their “bigs” are. How many “bigs” they have to know if I have to know if I have a position to play on that team.
Gopher Hole: When you finally do decide on a school what is going to be the main factors that are going to make you pick School A over School B or C?
Brock Bertram: Just the right fit. Just being there and having to know that I am with a family. Having a good coaching staff and relationships with my teammates is really going to be the key thing for me.
Gopher Hole: How about proximity to home? Is that going to be a factor?
Brock Bertram: Not really. It doesn’t matter where I go. I just want to be there with the right fit and wherever it is. I’ll be happy.