Among developments about the state’s coveted Big 3 prep basketball prospects for the class of 2014 is news that DeLaSalle forward Reid Travis now has scholarship offers from USC and Penn State.
High school basketball authority Ken Lien informed Sports Headliners that Travis also has offers from the Gophers, Iowa State, Colorado, Northwestern and Washington State. “He’s very athletic, a good shot blocker and can shoot the ball well,” Lien said. “He hasn’t given a verbal commitment to anyone.”
Nor have the other two members of the Big 3, Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones and Cooper forward Rashad Vaughn. The three are being recruited by a who’s who of college basketball programs including Michigan State, a school often drawing speculation about being at the top of Jones’ list.
The Spartans’ interest doesn’t stop with Jones. “I know Michigan State has looked at Vaughn quite a bit,” Lien said.
Lien, who operates the Mr. Basketball program that each year honors a Minnesota senior, said the class of 2014 has to compare with the best in state history for star power. That means the Gophers recruiters, who are in pursuit of Jones, Travis and Vaughn, are on the spot.
“There’s a chance they (the Gophers) might get all three, and there’s also the chance they may not get any of them,” Lien said.
Meanwhile, Minnetonka’s Riley Dearring, a player that Lien will be following for the 2013 Mr. Basketball award, has committed to Wisconsin. He’s an off-guard who doesn’t fit the defense-first stereotype fans have about Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
“His (Dearring’s) strengths are more offensive than defensive, but that’s typical of a lot of kids coming out of high school,” Lien said.
Lien said Edina point guard Graham Woodward, a senior next season, has an offer from Vermont. He also said Minnesota native Kyle Washington, a senior in 2013 who is deciding on where to play his last season of prep basketball, has a lot of potential and is interested in the Gophers.