Gopher Men Sign a Maverick

Tubby Smith added a 5th recruit to his incoming class of 2010 yesterday in 6-1 point guard Maverick Ahanmisi. Ahanmisi told a reporter that Tubby told him that he (Ahanmisi) would come off the bench initially. (Ya think?) I mean, Ahanmisi was supposed to be going to Boise State last year but ran into academic issues and spent the year at Stoneridge Prep in Tarzana, CA. The other contenders for his services as of yesterday were Chicago Loyola and UCSB.

So either this is a pretty low level signing or a kid who has been massively underrated.

On the plus side, he scored 20 ppg for a 25-3 team, Golden Valley High (CA), as a senior, including 41 points in a post-season play-off game. Not bad. And his club coach, Bob Gottlieb, who knows whereof he speaks, has been talking him up big time: "a major league scorer and a great shooter." "He handles defensive pressure well and gets to the (rim easily." "Great defensive instincts, picks off a lot of passes." Gottlieb is the former head coach as Jacksonville and Wisconsin-Milwaukee and former assistant at Creighton, Kansas State, Long Beach State and Oregon State. Of course, he might also be a little biased as a major college signing boosts the visibility of his club.

So we'll have to wait and see what Maverick has got, besides one of the more colorful names in Gopher history. (He's half Filipino, and half Nigerian.) The hope, of course, is that he's better than Justin Cobbs, whose scholarship he is for all intents and purposes inheriting after Cobbs announced his intention to transfer closer to his home, which is also located in the sunshine state. The other question is whether Al Nolen can regain his eligibility for the Gophers. If not, Maverick will probably see some minutes, ready or not.

Local reporter Marcus Fuller said in his blog that if, as Ahanmisi claims, Tubby told him he'd be coming off the bench, that this must mean that Nolen will be back at the point and Devoe Joseph will be moving over to the 2. A reader posted a reply, reminding Marcus of a fellow named Blake Hoffarber, and predicting that Nolen would be coming off the bench until he could prove that he can handle the academics and is back in fighting trim.

I think that's right. But what that means is that Ahanmisi, widely described as a 1, could see more action as a frosh at the 2. He is sometimes described as a combo guard, and if he's half the shooter and scorer Gottlieb says he is, you'd think he could handle it.

But let's be honest. We'll find out this coming fall whether this is a kid who can play in the Big Ten or not. Right now, it's even money.

Recently I advanced the following as a worst case for the Gophers in 2010-2011.

Starting Lineup

C/F--Colt Iverson

C/F--Ralph Sampson

F--Rod Williams

PG--Devoe Joseph

SG--Blake Hoffarber

Bench

C-- Elliott Eliason, a likely redshirt

C--Mo Walker, a freshman

F--Dominique Dawson, a walk-on

F--Oto Osenieks, a freshman

G--Bryant Allen, a walk-on

G--Austin Hollins, a freshman

Now, add in Ahanmisi, and let's also look at a best case alternative.

Starting Lineup

C/F--Colt Iverson

C/F--Ralph Sampson

F--Rod Williams

PG--Devoe Joseph

SG--Blake Hoffarber

Bench

C-- Elliott Eliason, a likely redshirt

C--Mo Walker, a freshman

F--Dominique Dawson, a walk-on

F--Trevor Mbakwe

F--Oto Osenieks, a freshman

F--Royce White, unlikely, "no change" in his status has been reported

G--Maverick Ahanmisi, a freshman

G--Bryant Allen, a walk-on

G--Austin Hollins, a freshman

G--Al Nolen

Bottom line:Even if Nolen can come back, without Royce White this bench is gonna scare absolutely nobody, Maverick or no.