Assistant coach Saul Smith told Sports Headliners last week that the Gopher staff plans to attract a “great” recruiting class next year and that’s part of the plan to have Minnesota competing for national championships. Head coach Tubby Smith and his assistants recruited a group of incoming freshmen and junior college players this year that has drawn national attention and is regarded among the best in the Big Ten Conference.
Asked about recruiting success for next year, Saul said, “We expect a great class of recruits that are going to fit in our system and fit in our ways of winning basketball games. …”
When asked about competing for Big Ten Championships, he talked about NCAA titles, too. “We do,” he said. “We feel like that’s our goal is to compete nationally and win national titles and to compete (for) Big Ten titles. We’re going to be all right. …”
Three of the Gophers five incoming recruits are in Minneapolis already, 6-10 forward/center Colton Iverson, 6-11 forward/center Ralph Sampson III, and 6-5 guard Devron Bostick. Forward Paul Carter, a 6-8 junior college transfer, and guard Devoe Joseph, 6-3 from Toronto, haven’t come to town yet.
Iverson, Sampson and Bostick are playing in the summer time Howard Pulley League in St. Paul. NCAA regulations prevent college coaches from watching the players but Saul Smith has impressions of all three from anecdotal reports and previous observations.
Iverson has a reputation for aggressive play, including offensive and defensive rebounding. “I am excited about him,” Smith said. “I knew he could do that because I had watched him as a high schooler. I think that’s going to help us, too. …”
Listening to Smith talk about Sampson, he makes it clear the youngster isn’t his dad, a 7-4 phenom who some once thought could become basketball’s greatest center ever. Smith described the elder Sampson as “kind of an aberration” and “just amazing.”
But young Ralph is impressive, too. “He kind of does everything really well,” Smith said. “He passes well. Defends well. He can score with either hand. These are the things that we like. His versatility. He (even) does ball handling drills pretty well. …”
The summer reports on Bostick are he’s living up to his reputation as a scorer. He averaged 19.3 and 18.2 points per game during two seasons at Southwestern Illinois where earlier this year he was named Division I National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year as selected by association coaches. Because of Bostick’s experience and maturity, Smith is expecting the 20-year-old to help immediately next season. “He’s going to be ready,” Smith said. “We expect him to be ready.”