Can Gophers land two top recruits?
Posted: Monday May 12, 2008 05:55AM ET
Royce White never misses a chance to sell his buddy Rodney Williams Jr. on the University of Minnesota. He'll talk about how crazy it would be for both to play at the Barn. He'll talk about how they could win a Big Ten Conference title together. He'll talk about how cool it would be to play for Tubby Smith. White is confident he can persuade Williams to be his college teammate. It has been only a few weeks since the junior forward from Hopkins High School committed to Minnesota, but he already has become the Gophers' best recruiter when it comes to pursuing Williams. Williams and White aren't merely the top two high school basketball players in the state. They could be the big-time recruits who prove Smith can give the Gophers what they've sorely lacked in recent years: the ability to attract many of the state's top players.
Tubby Smith, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Comments (17)
Seems like Tubby is recruiting the talent but can he take this team to the next level?
J. HOVA: ES MUY BIEN | 05/12/08, 09:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Gophers have significantly improved in one year with the same players Munson left on the court. Minnesota fans expect big things from Tubby and he already has shown us 20 wins this year with no talent Tollackson leading the team on the court.
Cousin Kyle | 05/12/08, 11:46 AM
Report Offensive CommentI agree kyle - Minnesota has been unable to keep its better in-state prospects over the last 5-6 yrs, benefiting Kansas, Iowa + UW (big time), among others. It's just a matter of time before the Goophs get back in the picture. too bad.
duany | 05/12/08, 12:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhat's sad is that Mn will be happy just winning a lot of games regardless of the Tourney. It's been way to long. Tubby needs to win big now (at least The Big 10) to ensure the fans will not simply accept a 20 win season.
Scruffy | 05/12/08, 07:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentWasn't Royce White suspended for a good portion of the basketball season this year?
bigkevinh | 05/12/08, 08:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentUpon further research, yes...he was suspended twice and dismissed from his school.
The future of Minnesota basketball!
bigkevinh | 05/12/08, 08:33 PM
Report Offensive CommentMinnesota has always had good talent in just about every sport. It is hard for the Gophers to recruit them because they have had the Metrodome for football, they only recruited minnesota kids for hockey and you just can't win it all unless you get all the best kids in the state. In basketball the program was never that strong and they got lucky a few years with haskins and a few good players. Now they have a great coach and tradition and pride seem to be taking hold. Hopefully these kids will see the chance they have to make this team special and get a solid education.
timewalker | 05/13/08, 04:00 AM
Report Offensive Commentcan minnesota attract top recruits from minnesota?
in a word no. the losing programs for the past few years doesn't make it an easy sell. even with a winning coach i don't see it happening
roryk | 05/13/08, 09:15 AM
Report Offensive Commentrory your not an expert so we could care less.
Cousin Kyle | 05/13/08, 01:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm happy Minnesota is starting to attract top recruits. As long as they don't cheat.
randy4147 | 05/13/08, 04:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentGoophs trying to save their program with two studs. Great... except that one looks to be an iffy qualifier, while the other was booted from his school for cheating (more than once, apparently). Long live Haskins.
Siempre_RM | 05/13/08, 09:05 PM
Report Offensive Commentrory your not an expert so we could care less.
Cousin Kyle | 05/13/08, 01:42 PM
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i may not be an expert, but if it were me as a recruited athlete, i would not want to live in downtown minneapolis or have to go there everyday. i would go and play in some other city even maybe at a smaller college. and the gophers are not going to win a big ten title any time soon, so why would a recruit commit?
roryk | 05/14/08, 02:56 PM
Report Offensive CommentRoryk:
Some kids like what a big city can offer them. Not everyone wants Lincoln, Nebraska or Iowa City where you practicaly can smell the horse patties in the air. Three corners will be rocking in a couple of years. Williams Arena (the Barn) will be facing TCF Bank Stadium and the always solid Gopher Hockey program at Marriuci Arena facing TCF as well.
Football had the recruiting anchor on their foot by having to share the metrodome off campus for the last 26 years. The new football stadium on campus(state of the art facility) and two good recruiting coaches in Tubby and Brewster will bring the Football and Basketball program back from the crum bowls and early tournament exits. If Haskins can get the 97 gophers to the final 4 I like the chances with Tubby. Brewster will revitalize the six time national champion football program to possiblee the days they had before the big two little eight in the 1970's.
TTT | 05/22/08, 11:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentRoryk:
Some kids like what a big city can offer them. Not everyone wants Lincoln, Nebraska or Iowa City where you practicaly can smell the horse patties in the air. Three corners will be rocking in a couple of years. Williams Arena (the Barn) will be facing TCF Bank Stadium and the always solid Gopher Hockey program at Marriuci Arena facing TCF as well.
Football had the recruiting anchor on their foot by having to share the metrodome off campus for the last 26 years. The new football stadium on campus(state of the art facility) and two good recruiting coaches in Tubby and Brewster will bring the Football and Basketball program back from the crum bowls and early tournament exits. If Haskins can get the 97 gophers to the final 4 I like the chances with Tubby. Brewster will revitalize the six time national champion football program to possiblee the days they had before the big two little eight in the 1970's.
TTT | 05/22/08, 11:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentRoryk:
Some kids like what a big city can offer them. Not everyone wants Lincoln, Nebraska or Iowa City where you practicaly can smell the horse patties in the air. Three corners will be rocking in a couple of years. Williams Arena (the Barn) will be facing TCF Bank Stadium and the always solid Gopher Hockey program at Marriuci Arena facing TCF as well.
Football had the recruiting anchor on their foot by having to share the metrodome off campus for the last 26 years. The new football stadium on campus(state of the art facility) and two good recruiting coaches in Tubby and Brewster will bring the Football and Basketball program back from the crum bowls and early tournament exits. If Haskins can get the 97 gophers to the final 4 I like the chances with Tubby. Brewster will revitalize the six time national champion football program to possiblee the days they had before the big two little eight in the 1970's.
TTT | 05/22/08, 11:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentRoryk:
Some kids like what a big city can offer them. Not everyone wants Lincoln, Nebraska or Iowa City where you practicaly can smell the horse patties in the air. Three corners will be rocking in a couple of years. Williams Arena (the Barn) will be facing TCF Bank Stadium and the always solid Gopher Hockey program at Marriuci Arena facing TCF as well.
Football had the recruiting anchor on their foot by having to share the metrodome off campus for the last 26 years. The new football stadium on campus(state of the art facility) and two good recruiting coaches in Tubby and Brewster will bring the Football and Basketball program back from the crum bowls and early tournament exits. If Haskins can get the 97 gophers to the final 4 I like the chances with Tubby. Brewster will revitalize the six time national champion football program to possiblee the days they had before the big two little eight in the 1970's.
TTT | 05/22/08, 11:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentTechnical difficuluties I guess
TTT | 05/22/08, 11:06 PM
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