Taison Chatman, a 6-foot-4, 170-pound junior guard of Fridley (MN) Totino-Grace is considered the top player in the state of Minnesota in the Class of 2023.
Chatman scored 18 points in the Eagles’ 61-58 win over DeLaSalle Saturday. Totino-Grace bounced back from a 66-35 loss to Corona Centennial in Sioux Falls Saturday.
Chatman helped lead the Eagles to a 16-5 mark last year, losing to Minnehaha Academy 73-60 in the Class AAA, Section 4 finals, despite leading by 15 points in the first half.
Chatman averaged 12.6 points as he scored in double figures in 14 of 20 games as a sophomore, including a season-best 24 points versus Maple Grove in the season opener.
The Eagles are considered to be the team to beat in Class AAA as they also return senior forward Demarion Watson, who signed with Iowa State and fellow junior Tommy Humphries. The Eagles also landed 6-foot-10 transfer Ahjany Lee, who is headed to St. Thomas.
GopherHole caught up with Chatman Saturday after the Breakdown Big 12 Classic to learn the latest about his recruitment and junior campaign.
GopherHole: You played three games in three days. How much do you think this is going to help you guys as you get ready for the conference play and hopefully, the postseason?
Taison Chatman: I think that it is going to help us a lot. Our coach said that he scheduled three games to see what we really had in us and I think tonight, we were all exhausted. We were all tired. We got back late last night, but I think that we locked in and got the win.
GopherHole: You played a very good team Friday, Corona Centennial and the score was probably surprising to you guys. Did that get you motivated for this game even a little bit more?
Taison Chatman: Yeah, definitely. After the game, we were just saying “you have to move onto the next one” and we came out and played.
GopherHole: I know that you visited some campuses and went to some football games this fall. Where all did you get a chance to go?
Taison Chatman: I’ve been to numerous amount of Minnesota football games. I’ve been to a couple of their basketball games, too and I went to Iowa’s home opener.
GopherHole: What Gopher football games did you get a chance to go to?
Taison Chatman: I went to the Ohio State one and the homecoming against Bowling Green.
GopherHole: What basketball games have you been to?
Taison Chatman: I went when they played Concordia for the exhibition and I’m actually going on Wednesday to watch them play Green Bay.
GopherHole: They have gotten off to a better start than most people expected. Does that get you more excited about Minnesota watching them?
Taison Chatman: Definitely. Everyone was definitely surprised. They were ranked last in the Big Ten standings preseason, so I think it is definitely a surprise, but good for them.
GopherHole: I know that Coach Johnson has put a priority on getting the top Minnesota kids to stay in-state. This year, they got Braden Carrington, Joshua Ola-Joseph, who is going to a prep school and Pharrel Payne. I know that they are putting a hard recruiting look at you. Does that get you more excited about Minnesota as they have gotten some good players form the Class of 2022 and they are looking at you and some other players in the Class of 2023?
Taison Chatman: Yeah, it’s definitely cool. It’s cool to see how much Coach Johnson genuinely believes in me and believes that I can fit into what he is building at Minnesota so far.
GopherHole: I know that he was at the game tonight as well. You have a talented team. Do you think that helps you since you have a lot of Division I players as opposed to if you were the only star and had to adjust to college because you played with a lot of players that can play at a high level. Do you think that helps get you more ready for college than if you played on a team where you were the only good player?
Taison Chatman: Yeah, definitely. I feel like every college team they have one guy, but they play as a team and I think that is what we do here.
GopherHole: I know that your brother is playing at a junior college in New Mexico after playing at Northern State. Do you talk to him about recruiting because he has been through the process?
Taison Chatman: I talk to him a little bit. He is just giving me little tips about how the game goes.
GopherHole: Your dad played too. Is that nice to have those two that you can bounce idea off?
Taison Chatman: Definitely. They are great resources.
GopherHole: I don’t even know if you keep track, but do you know how many offers are you up to right now?
Taison Chatman: I think that I am at nine or ten (Minnesota, Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Louisville, Nebraska, Marquette, Iowa and Iowa State).
GopherHole: Any other plans to try to visit some schools? You mentioned going to Minnesota this week. Any others plans?
Taison Chatman: As of right now, no. I’m in season, so I’m pretty busy. It’s hard to get out of state.
GopherHole: I know that is still aways before you decide on a school, but what are going to be the main factors that are going to make you pick School A over School B and C?
Taison Chatman: I would relationship with the coaches. That’s big for me and playing style is a big one, too, for sure.