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.

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