clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

‘BTPowerhouse 25’ - #9 Amir Coffey

BTPowerhouse's staff counts down the best players in the Big Ten heading into the 2017-’18 season.

By Sean Bock
NCAA Basketball: Michigan at Minnesota Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

In the months leading up to the 2017-’18 college basketball season, BTPowerhouse will be releasing a new series called the 'BTPowerhouse 25,' which features the Top 25 players in the Big Ten as voted by members of the staff. All players set to be on Big Ten rosters for next season were eligible during the staff vote with their top selection receiving 25 points and their 25th and final selection receiving 1 point.

Today we will take a look at Amir Coffey of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who came in at No. 9 in the rankings. After a stellar freshman season, Coffey will be one of the main pieces for Richard Pitino's squad who have a real chance of competing at the top of the Big Ten this year.

'BTPowerhouse 25' - #9 Amir Coffey

  • Eligibility: Sophomore
  • Career Totals: 33 games, 1,097 minutes, 404 points, 127 rebounds, 102 assists
  • 2016-'17 Averages: 33.2 min, 12.2 pts, 3.8 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1.1 stls
  • Positional Role: Shooting Guard

If it weren't for Miles Bridges, Coffey would probably have won Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. One of the highest-ranked recruits to play for the Gophers, Coffey made a huge impact as a freshman and is poised to have an even better sophomore campaign.

Player Strengths

At 6-foot-8, Coffey is not your typical two-guard. His height gives him a distinct advantage over other backcourt players. Coffey has a great feel for the game and is very fluid on the court. He has excellent dribbling skills, which allow him to attack defenses for a bucket or a pass to an open teammate.

As a freshman, Coffey shot nearly 34 percent from three-point land. Though it's not an eye-popping statistic, it's good enough to prove that Coffey is a threat from behind the arc.

Lastly, Coffey has a consistent motor on both sides of the ball. On offense, he's always trying to make a player whether for himself or a teammate. On the defensive end, he uses his size to clamp down on defenders and makes opponents work hard on every possession.

Areas for Improvement

The only negative of Coffey's physical physique is his strength. For someone of his size, Coffey is very thin and will need to add muscle to go up against bigger and stronger opponents when the time comes.

While Coffey has great playmaking ability, he had troubles his freshman year with turnovers. Coffey averaged 1.9 turnovers a game last year, which is not a grand ratio with his 3.1 assists per game. If Coffey wants to raise his draft stock this season, he'll need to take care of the rock.

Player Projections

Minnesota's success this year will depend on how far Coffey and senior guard Nate Mason can take them. Coffey lived up to expectations his freshman season, and he's expected to be even better in his second year. There are still a couple of tweaks in his game that needs to be fixed, but he should still be a top guard in the Big Ten.

With one year under his belt and an off-season to improve his game, Coffey should average around 16 points per game and see an increase in his assists and rebounding percentages. The Big Ten has a solid group of guards this season, and Coffey should find himself in the top-tier of the club when it's all said and done.

‘BT Powerhouse 25’ Rankings:

More From BT Powerhouse