JUCO guard Carlos Morris is expected to visit the Gophers this weekend.
Carlos Morris, a 6-foot-5, 160-pound sophomore guard from Chipola (FL) Junior College, is expected to visit Minnesota this weekend. Morris averaged 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game last season. He shot 44.4% from the field, 36.5% from three-point range and 77.4% from the charity stripe.
Gopher Hole caught up with Chipola head coach Pat Blake to learn the latest on his standout guard’s recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on Carlos’ recruitment right now?
Pat Blake: He has got a few schools in the mix. He has already visited Seton Hall and UAB and will visit Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: He is coming up to Minnesota this weekend, right?
Pat Blake: Right.
Gopher Hole: Has he kind of narrowed down his list to those schools or is he still looking at some others?
Pat Blake: Right now, it has been narrowed down to those three.
Gopher Hole: What do you see as his strengths as a player?
Pat Blake: He is a 6-5, very long and athletic wing. He is really skilled offensively. Makes shots. Penetrates and get his own shot at the rim and create shots for others. With his length and athleticism, he is a very good rebounder.
Gopher Hole: What are some of the things, like any player, that he needs to work on to improve himself and be ready to play at the next level?
Pat Blake: Probably, the biggest thing that he has got to improve on is his physical strength and body. He is 6-5 and a little lean. He can probably afford to add on some weight, but still being able to be effective.
Gopher Hole: I know that he originally committed to South Carolina and later de-committed. How did he end up at your place?
Pat Blake: We were just fortunate after that kind of happened. Academically, he wasn’t going to be NCAA eligible and my staff did a good job putting him up with a family and we were fortunate enough to get him.
Gopher Hole: What do you think that he is looking for out of a NCAA Division I opportunity? What is going to be the main thing that is going to make him pick School A over School B or C?
Pat Blake: I think the style of play that fits him. A staff that he feels comfortable with and that will continue to develop him, not only as a player, but as a person.
Gopher Hole: He visited Seton the weekend of the 14th. He has visited UAB yet?
Pat Blake: No, he has not.
Gopher Hole: Do you know when he is going to visit there?
Pat Blake: I am not sure about that. I know that they are trying to set that up in the next couple of weeks.
Gopher Hole: Has Coach Pitino or any of the other coaches from Minnesota been down to your place?
Pat Blake: Yes. Dan McHale. He was down here, I want to say, the middle of last week.
Gopher Hole: Was has Carlos’s relationship been with the Minnesota coaches so far?
Pat Blake: From what I can tell, it has been a really good relationship. Coach Pitino has done a great job and I think that Carlos has had some great conversations with Coach Pitino as well.
Gopher Hole: Chipola has a reputation as not only one of the top team in Florida, but in the country. I know that you have Cinmeon Bowers (who averaged 11. points and 6.9 rebounds), who committed to Florida State recently. What are the expectations for the team this year?
Pat Blake: Right now, it is a unique situation because we have five sophomores that are dealing with recruiting, going Division I. Right now, we are just focusing on get better, each and every day and when the games start in November, hopefully, we can get everyone on the same page and compete for a conference championship.
Gopher Hole: Has Carlos indicated to you that he is going to try to decide before the early signing period?
Pat Blake: I would imagine that he will make a decision before the early signing period.