Tubby Smith is meeting with Darius Smith right now
Posted on September 11th, 2008 – 3:11 PMBy Myron Medcalf
I know because I just talked to Chicago prep point guard Darius Smith, one of Minnesota’s top recruits. Smith told me Thursday afternoon that he’s watching film of last season’s state championship game, which the 6-1 player’s Chicago Marshall High School won, with Tubby Smith. When I asked him about the Gophers, he sounded excited about the possibility of playing at Minnesota. “So far, so good,” he said about Tubby Smith’s trip to Chicago thus far.
Smith said he will narrow down his list of schools Saturday. He wouldn’t name any schools that might make the final cut, but he said he’s sure that Minnesota will be on his list. Multiple coaches are expected to visit Smith in the coming days. Minnesota, Marquette, DePaul and Bradley have all offered Smith scholarships. He visited Minnesota last weekend but left the campus without committing, but he said he thinks he’d like “the college life” at the U if he decided to go there.
Smith, a three-star recruit according to rivals.com, averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and nine steals (not a typo) last season for Chicago’s Marshall High School, the same school that “Hoop Dreams” stars Arthur Agee and William Gates attended.
Smith, who described himself as a “true point,” said Minnesota’s style of play and coaching staff are similar to Marshall’s. He also thinks he’ll have a chance to learn from Minnesota’s older guards.
“Man, it’s like … they play the same style of play that I do. [They’re] up the court, defensive wise,” he said.
Smith’s high school coach Courtney Hargrays called Smith a “throwback” who leads his team in many ways. “I don’t see too many people that [do] everything,” Hargrays said. Hargrays said Smith plans to sign with a school during the early signing period.
Minnesota hopes to land Smith and Robbinsdale Cooper’s Rodney Williams. The Gophers lost four potential post players when Hopkins’ Mike Broghammer, Osseo’s Sam Dower, Colorado center Trevor Williams and Georgia power forward Torin Walker chose other schools over the weekend.
3 Responses to "Tubby Smith is meeting with Darius Smith right now"
Hey Darius,
I can tell you from experience that you will love the student life at the U in Minneapolis. It is a big school in a cosmopolitan city (Minneapolis-Saint Paul) which means that you will have all options available to you–and you’ll be close to home. No matter who you are you will be able to find like-minded people with which you will fit in.
You also will be exposed to the rest of the world which will help you grow on your own terms. It’s a very nice coincidence that Tubby’s system fits your style of play. Chicago (where DePaul is located and is your hometown) is great and I personally visit every time I get, but Minneapolis-Saint Paul has everything that Chicago has to offer.
It’s true that MSP is on a smaller scale than Chicago but, at times this results in higher quality.
How many scholarships does the U have to give for ‘09?
Of the 4 players that you mentioned that we lost, how many were actually offered scholarships. Mike Broghammer was not offered.
3. The 2 seniors who graduate and walk-on Busch will give up his scholarship.
