Gophers basketball has its first big recruiting date planned for the football team's season opener next Thursday against South Dakota State at TCF Bank Stadium.
Expected on the first official visit for Richard Pitino this fall will be three-star Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) guard Ty Berry, but he won't be alone.
Accompanying Berry will be several local prospects on unofficials, including 2020 targets and D1 Minnesota teammates Dawson Garcia, Kerwin Walton, Steven Crowl and Ben Carlson.
A 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior from Newton, Kan., Berry was offered a scholarship by the Gophers in June. His first official visit was to Northwestern earlier this month. Berry is also considering Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, among others.
"He's a combo guard who can score, but obviously run the show when you need him to," said Berry's AAU coach L.J. Goolsby, who runs KC Run GMC. "His ability to shoot is what intrigued a lot of people. I know Coach Pitino is really trying to add that to his team. He's a great kid. He could be an asset to whatever program he chooses to play for."
The Gophers have offered scholarships other combo guards in the 2020 class, most notably Minnehaha Academy's Jalen Suggs and Brewster Academy's Jamal Mashburn Jr. Suggs has made unofficial visits to the U. Mashburn is reportedly eyeing a trip to Minnesota in October.
Berry being the first to schedule an official visit shows he might be further along in the recruiting process, but it's uncertain when he'll make a decision. Pitino and his staff will be smart with their three scholarships in such a loaded senior class locally. Still, the Gophers are always looking to add players who can stretch the floor.
"His ability to shoot the ball when he's on is fun to watch," Goolsby said. "He can score with the best of them."
