Gophers Basketball – Page 51 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Target State Prep Tackles

Posted on May 5, 2021 by David Shama

Recruiting online source 247Sports lists the top five Minnesota prep football players in the class of 2022 in this order: Eli King, Tre Holloman, Lucas Heyer, Kristen Hoskins and Deylin Hasert. King, a superb athlete from Caledonia and football quarterback, has committed to play basketball at Iowa State. It’s possible the other four could become Gophers.

That last sentence comes with a twist. Holloman is a cornerback at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul but he is also a basketball point guard. He is a coveted recruit in both sports. “I know that there’s a lot of schools in the Big Ten, including Minnesota, who think he could be an incredible corner but it sounds like he’s going to play basketball,” recruiting authority Ryan Burns of GopherIllustrated told Sports Headliners. Burns has heard the basketball Gophers are pitching hard and may secure a commitment.

For years Gophers fans have been frustrated to see top offensive linemen from the state choose colleges other than Minnesota. Burns describes the situation as “a thorn in the side” of Gopher head coaches going back more than 10 years. P.J. Fleck and his staff hope to flip that with their 2022 class. Heyer, from Hill-Murray, and Hasert, from Marshall, are both offensive tackles. So, too, is Tony Nelson of Tracy who has verbally committed to Minnesota and is ranked No. 8 among state prospects for 2022 by 247 Sports.

Heyer, 6-5 and 307 pounds per 247, reminds Burns of current Gopher Blaise Andries, who is one of the better offensive linemen in the Big Ten. “I think Blaise may be a little more athletic than Lucas, but very smart kids,” Burns said. “I mean very cerebral. They understand what their jobs are.”

Burns predicted Hasert, 6-5 and 280 per 247, may switch from tackle to guard his senior season at Marshall this fall and sees him playing the position in college. Hasert’s athleticism, including foot speed, could make him special as a pulling guard. “He is certainly a road grader,” Burns said.

Minnesota’s competition for Heyer includes Northwestern and Stanford. Iowa and Iowa State are among schools that interest Hasert.

Nelson, about 6-6 and 285, is passionate about the Gophers and Burns doesn’t see him changing his commitment. “He is all of 6-6, incredibly long, incredibly athletic,” Burns said.

Reversing the trend of seeing prep offensive linemen go elsewhere is now in play with Nelson, Hasert and Heyer. “I think they want to get three (of them) for sure and if they could get Deylin and Lucas, to go with Tony, they would be through the moon,” Burns said.

Hoskins is about 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, and the Alexandria star has also verbally committed to Minnesota. He projects as a wide receiver with the Gophers but Burns believes Hoskins could first help as a return man on kickoffs and punts. He has touchdown making speed and quickness. “He’s just explosive,” Burns said.

Minnesota has five verbal commits so far for its class of 2022. Joining Hoskins and Nelson are Ohio defensive end Trey Bixby, Georgia safety Coleman Bryson, and South Dakota quarterback Jacob Knuth. All of the commits are three-star prospects except for four-star Bixby, per 247.

Burns will be surprised if the Gophers receive any more verbal commitments before June 1. With the pandemic easing, and campus visits being scheduled, and summer football camps starting next month, commitments will be coming across the country. A normal landscape is in stark contrast to all the travel lockdowns of the last 15 months that left some players making commitments to schools they never visited. “Starting on June 1, it’s going to be crazy,” Burns said about recruiting in late spring and summer.

Track Fleck’s past recruiting and it shows most of his commits come in May, June and July. Burns attributes part of that to players from the south arriving in Minnesota in June and seeing that it’s not “ice cold” here. Burns projects the Gophers will pick up five to 10 verbal commitments this June.

Worth Noting

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers former public address announcer for basketball and baseball, received the best news this week regarding his lymphoma cancer when the doctor said “everything is gone.” This is the second time Jonckowski has won his battle with lymphoma. Going forward he will have checkups every six weeks.

The Gophers and UMD Bulldogs athletic directors, Mark Coyle and Josh Berlo, sent a letter this week to the Minnesota House and Senate tax chairs supporting a proposed provision in the House omnibus tax bill granting a sales tax exemption for scholarship seating donations at Minnesota colleges. The letter said “we believe Minnesota is the only state in the nation that taxes these types of collegiate athletic donations.”

Revenue retained from a sales tax exemption would support scholarships for student athletes, their wellness and academic costs. A volunteer group called Friends of Gophers Sports (FOGS) has been making progress on this proposed legislative change that could result in a seven-figure savings for the Gophers.

“It’s moving ahead and we’re hopeful it will stay in the tax bill,” said volunteer Tom Devine, who pointed out the Minnesota Vikings already have a sales tax exemption from seat licensing sales.

A Sports Headliners reader back from Las Vegas reported odds on the Vikings winning the Super Bowl are 50-1, according to the renowned William Hill book. Odds for Minnesota’s NFC North Division rivals are the Packers 10-1, Bears 60-1 and Lions 125-1. The Chiefs are the top pick to win the Super Bowl at 5-1.

Legendary Brainerd High School football coach Ron Stolski emailed that Joe Haeg, who played for him, will now be able to say he was teammates with two future NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Haeg, an offensive tackle, signed as a free agent this offseason to join the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger after being with Tom Brady and the 2021 Super Bowl champion Bucs.

MLB.com’s power rankings now have the Twins at No. 16 after being as high as No. 4 this spring. The AL Central Division favorite White Sox are No. 4 in the latest rankings, while the Royals are No. 9.

Don’t be surprised if Twins’ call ups from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints include top 100 MLB prospect Jhoan Duran, a right-hander who throws the “splinker,” a splitter-sinker hybrid.

Minnesotan Freddie Gillespie now has a two-year contract with the NBA’s Raptors. He had no Division I or II offers coming out of East Ridge High School, played two seasons at Carleton, walked-on at Baylor and signed with Raptors last year as a free agent. The 23-year-old forward has played in 14 games this season, averaging 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Credit former Gophers basketball captain Al Nuness with impacting Gillespie’s career path. Gillespie’s mother, Alberder Gillespie, talked to Nuness when her son was at Carleton and asked for advice. Nuness saw potential in the 6-foot-9 Gillespie and contacted his son Jared Nuness, a member of the Baylor coaching staff. She said Al Nuness “instantly knew” that her son could become a special player.

“I couldn’t have scripted the way it happened,” Alberder said in describing her son’s basketball journey.

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Cancer or Not, ‘Polish Eagle’ Tells Tales

Posted on May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 by David Shama

I was in a Bloomington restaurant last Thursday awaiting two long time friends. Anticipating their arrival had me smiling in the nearly empty and quiet restaurant. I knew having lunch with Dick Jonckowski and John Justice would be a two hour “parade” of story telling and jokes.

To my surprise, they walked in with gifts. Dick loaned me a book celebrating the triumphs of the Boston Celtics, the storied NBA franchise boasting so many legendary players we admire. John owns Iron Horse Products and gifted a four-pack of root beer, cream soda and two bottles of black cherry.

Dick announced he and wife Arlene would celebrate their 55th anniversary on Friday. They planned dinner out at an Italian restaurant with son Jeff and daughter Jennifer. Ironically, Dick would have a PET scan that day, and then receive the results on Tuesday (tomorrow) whether he is cancer free.

This is his second fight with lymphoma and he requested a late lunch time Thursday because of a morning chemo session. He feels healthy and seems full of life. Short diagnosis is also this: the 77-year-old is still happy as a kid celebrating a birthday. Cancer can’t suck the happy-go-lucky out of him, and neither can diabetes. Despite a life long aversion to needles, he injects insulin into his body every morning.

John and Dick have been pals for almost 60 years. They met as ushers at old Metropolitan Stadium, working both Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings games. At the restaurant the stories and memories started with those Met Stadium days of long ago.

At the Met both drove cars to transport relief pitchers from the bullpen located in back of the outfield fence to the pitching mound. A challenge with the assignment was the Twins’ Vic Power delighted in throwing small stones at the car from the dugout. “Me like to throw stones,” the Puerto Rican first baseman said in broken English.

Power was a smooth fielding, skilled hitter who belongs in the “MLB Characters Hall of Fame.” Power was also a flashy dresser and Dick recalled an encounter Vic had with co-Twins owner Thelma Griffith Haynes.

“Vic, you look so cool today,” Thelma said.

“You don’t look so hot yourself,” Vic responded.

John became friends with Power despite his fondness for chipping paint off the bullpen car. The two once sat in Power’s car in the Met Stadium parking lot waiting out a bomb scare that interrupted the game. Power used to pick up John at his house and drive them to Met Stadium.

There was no friendship, though, between Dick and Chicago White Sox reliever Dave DeBusschere. The two had an encounter during a season when a golf cart, not a car, transported pitchers. When DeBusschere was summoned out of the bullpen, Dick realized the golf cart engine was flooded and didn’t start.

“You dumb ass,” an angry DeBusschere said to Dick.

DeBusschere had to walk from the bullpen to the mound and then pitched poorly. He complained after the game he was tired and blamed the golf cart driver for his performance. “I had to walk in from the bullpen,” lamented DeBusschere, who gained fame as a starting forward on two New York Knicks NBA championship teams in the early 1970s.

John has called Dick “Jongo” for a long time. He derived the nickname from the character Mongo in the movie Blazing Saddles. Just seemed right. Call him “Jongo” or the “Polish Eagle” (longtime Philadelphia Eagles fan), or whatever, he has been making friends and making audiences laugh in Minnesota and other parts of the country since LBJ was in the White House.

John has developed a lot of relationships through the decades with Twin Cities career stops at places like the old Decathlon Club in Bloomington and Pepsi in Burnsville, but “Jongo” is special to him. Any friends as funny? “I can’t think of anybody even close,” John said.

Dick was the longtime public address voice of Gophers baseball and basketball but paying the bills more through the years has been his public speaking and emcee work. The events gig started in 1965 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin where he emceed a beauty pageant. Years later he emceed a Carver County princess contest. Dick announced that instead of interviewing the contestants, they were to ask him questions.

The first young lady had a doozy, “Are you wearing any underwear, Mr. Jonckowski?”

In Dick’s early years he was befriended by the late Halsey Hall who was a master storyteller gifted with a gregarious laugh for the ages. Halsey was a sportswriter for the Minneapolis Star, broadcaster for the Twins and in his spare time worked the banquet circuit. He also enjoyed a cocktail or two or three, almost any day or time.

At a Monday night gathering for Minnesota sports fans years ago, Dick noticed Halsey was wearing a black shoe and a brown. He pointed this out to his mentor. Halsey was unfazed and replied, “I’ve got another pair like them at home.”

COVID has put a big dent in the emcee business but Dick’s phone is busy. Clients call and say, “We need a laugh, Dick. We gotta get you out here (to speak).”

And Dick can talk. He remembered an event in LaCrosse, Wisconsin where he told jokes nonstop for 90 minutes. That’s a lot of material and a lot of memory in his noggin, with some of it dating back to jokes told by classic comedians like Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Henny Youngman.

At our lunch Dick is giggling and telling one story after another including a joke that resonates with any parent whoever tried to persuade his son to get a haircut. The kid asks dad if he can use the car. Pops says okay, if the teenager will get his shoulder length hair trimmed. “But, dad, Jesus had long hair,” the son argues.

Then dad gets the final word, “Yes, he did and he walked everywhere.”

Nobody describes Dick as controversial but he has annoyed a few athletes over the years. At a golf outing Dick noticed a Minnesota sports hero (call him Tim) was completely inebriated. Dick told the crowd: “Here comes Tim’s foursome—him and his friends—Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and Johnny Walker.”

Dick has worked both sides of the media business as a radio host/sportscaster, and publicity man for the American Basketball Association Minnesota Muskies. High school teams could draw larger crowds than the Muskies who played at the old Met Center, home of the Minnesota North Stars.

The Muskies’ former publicity man loves to tell the story about a woman who called the box office inquiring about the starting time for that evening’s game. “What time can you be here?” replied the accommodating ticket seller.

ABA and NBA great Rick Barry first met Dick when playing with the Oakland Oaks. The two have remained friends and call each other on their birthdays. Dick’s b-day is October 22 and he refers to October as “the month of celebrities,” rattling off Mickey Mantle (October 20), Ricky Rubio and Vern Mikkelsen (October 21), and Johnny Carson (October 23).

If you haven’t caught on by now, Dick is not timid. Once he went to Milwaukee to watch his hero, Pete Maravich of the Atlanta Hawks, play against the Bucks. Dick was dressed in red, the Hawks colors, and he went on the court with no authorization or credential during team warm-ups. He greeted Maravich, who gave him a friendly hello. “He thought I was part of the front office,” Dick chuckled.

At a New Orleans Super Bowl he and Arlene crashed a Super Bowl victory party. “We’re walking down Bourbon Street and she said we can’t go in there. I said, sure we can.”

For about an hour the Jonckowskis mingled and enjoyed the hospitality. “Play like you belong and it works,” Dick said of his uninvited adventures. “Today (though) I might be arrested.”

As the pandemic eases, Dick will find his way back to a microphone more frequently. He is looking forward to entertaining at the annual Mancini’s St. Paul Sports Hall of Fame event June 14 where inductees will include Dave Winfield and Chris Weinke.

Count on Dick showing up with more stories than there is time for and filling the room with laughter. He is a believer in laugh and live longer.

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Vikings to Pick O-Lineman, But Wait

Posted on April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 by David Shama

Mock NFL Drafts have the Minnesota Vikings choosing an offensive lineman with their No. 14 first round selection Thursday night. “I would go offensive lineman, there is no doubt about that,” agreed former Viking Bob Lurtsema.

Lurtsema, who still follows the team with passion, was asked about taking the best player regardless of position. “I’d go best offensive lineman (available),” he answered.

That could be Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw who has excelled at the offensive line position the Vikings need the most help at, left tackle. Quarterback Kirk Cousins, with limited mobility, needs a stud left tackle to protect his blind side and Darrisaw’s athleticism is impressive.

No guarantee, though, Darrisaw will be available when the Vikings make their first round pick. It’s a possibility he will, with as many as five quarterbacks expected to eat up draft slots early in the draft. Oregon’s Penei Sewell is the most coveted offensive lineman in the draft and almost certain not to be available to the Vikings unless Minnesota moves up the draft board with a trade.

Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater and USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker could both be available to Minnesota. Both have shorter arms than ideal, with Slater’s arm extension measured at 33 inches and Vera-Tucker’s 32⅛, per NFL.com. Lurtsema said his long arms were a key in his playing 12 years on the defensive line in the NFL. Extra extension is important for offensive and defensive linemen, with the man in control able to move a foe like the guy is on roller skates. “You’ve got total control,” Lurtsema said.

Darrisaw’s arm length is 34¼ inches, but neither he, Slater or Vera-Tucker may be Minnesota’s preferred selection in the first round. Vikings’ needs include an edge rusher to pair with Danielle Hunter, or even replace the talented defensive end if Minnesota can’t meet future contract expectations. Although the Vikings have given extra attention to adding defensive personnel in the offseason, they still might pass on an offensive lineman to take Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye.

Paye has the kind of athleticism and explosive style that excites both fans and scouts. He has also been praised for his work ethic and leadership. Although his football playing experience is limited and fundamentals need to improve, he might be too much for defensive-minded Vikings coach Mike Zimmer to pass up.

Worth Noting

Gophers Rashod Bateman and Benjamin St-Juste could go in the first and third rounds respectively. Wide receiver Bateman impresses with his route running, while St-Juste has the long arms not common for cornerbacks.

Sports Illustrated notes that Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago was the first player selected in the inaugural NFL Draft 85 years ago but never played in the league because he wanted to try out for the Olympic Decathlon team and he “could make more money as a foam rubber salesman.”

Jeff Diamond, the former Vikings GM, offers his NFL expertise on TalkNorth.com podcasts. Diamond, who started with the Vikings as an intern, also was president of the Tennessee Titans.

An NHL authority, speaking anonymously, said Minnesota Wild rookie scoring sensation Kirill Kaprizov has “(Wayne) Gretzky traits behind the net.” Kaprizov excels there in setting up goals and points, just like the “The Great One,” the source said. He’s not suggesting Kaprizov is another Gretzky but he is impressed how the young Russian has transitioned to success on the ice in the NHL.

Kaprizov has fit in with the team’s culture, too. His affable manner makes him a comfortable teammate to be around. Another player with his talent could be a prima donna but Kaprizov, who turns 24 today, is the opposite.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, with a season record of 17-44, are 5-6 since enigmatic guard D’Angelo Russell returned to the team from injury April 5. With a new hair-do and improved play, the talented Russell is averaging 19.4 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds since his return.

Russell scored 23 points in Minnesota’s win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City Saturday night. The Wolves are 2-0 against the Jazz this season, even though Utah has the best record in the NBA at 44-16. Wagering money will be on a Jazz win tonight (Monday) when the teams meet in Minneapolis.

FanSided’s “way-too-early” Big Ten basketball power rankings for next season have coach Ben Johnson’s Gophers No. 12, ahead of Northwestern and Nebraska.

Admirers of legendary coach John Anderson (40 years into leading the Golden Gophers baseball program) are hoping he and athletic director Mark Coyle will soon announce details about a new multiyear contract. The all-time winningest baseball coach in Big Ten history and a high character leader, Anderson is in the last year of his contract.

That was 82-year-old former Minnesota Twin Tony Oliva, a .304 lifetime hitter, taking his golf clubs to a suburban Minneapolis driving range last week.

The Twins, in their 60th season based in Minnesota, had an exasperating loss for the ages last Wednesday against the Athletics in Oakland. The A’s scored an improbable 13-12 walk-off win in the 10th inning without a base hit. A pair of two-out walks and a mishandled game-ending ground ball by Minnesota second baseman Travis Blankenhorn loaded the bases before a throwing error by third baseman Luis Arraez allowed the winning run to score. A Sports Headliners reader and Twins fan described the mess as a “top 10 loss” in franchise history.

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