Gophers Still in Good Shape After Missing Out On In-State Guard

The Gophers let another top 2017 recruit get out of Minnesota this week, but it won't be a huge loss if things go as planned.

Osseo, MN native Brad Davison committed to the Wisconsin Badgers on Monday, less than a week after the Gophers offered him. The 6'3" guard became the second four-star Minnesota native to commit to the Badgers for 2017, joining 6'10" Nathan Reuvers of Lakeville North.

Davison told Benjamin Worgull of Scout.com that he was proud to get an offer from his hometown school, but Minnesota got in the picture too late.

"I had already had my mind made up at that time," he said. "Getting an offer from Minnesota was one of my goals growing up, and it meant a lot to get that offer, but I had such a great relationship with Coach (Greg) Gard and Coach (Joe) Krabbenhoft already that I knew where I wanted to go."

Davison was a second-team all-state pick at Maple Grove after averaging 21.3 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game as a junior.

It can be disappointing for Minnesota fans to see two of their top in-state players commit to the rival Badgers, but Richard Pitino and the Minnesota coaches have plenty of options remaining. While Davison has risen fast this spring, the Gophers have long had their eyes on two more guards in the Class of 2017.

Minnesota has already hosted two potential point guards that would help negate the loss of Davison.

McKinley Wright stepped on campus first. The 6'0" three-star guard from Champlin, MN took an unofficial visit to Minnesota in late May. Wright has other major Division I offers, but Minnesota has 100% of the vote on the 247Sports Crystal Ball after Pitino chose to offer him in spring ahead of Davison.

"The visit to Minnesota today was really cool," McKinley told Ryan James of Gophers Illustrated at the time. "I got a better feel for Minnesota and the coaching staff. The coaches are very cool outside of basketball, and they care about me as a person. The program is also moving in the right direction. So that's a plus. They are also building a new facility as well."

The Gophers have also zeroed in on Isaiah Washington, a 6'0" four-star point guard from Bronx, NY, who took an official visit to Minnesota in June.

"I went on an unofficial visit to Minnesota a couple days ago," Washington told Pat Lawless of MADE Hoops in late June. "It was a good visit and I like it out there. It was even better than I expected and it’s a good option for me."

Minnesota made an impression on Washington, but his recruitment is wide open as offers continue to roll in.

A commitment from Washington or Wright would ease the loss of Davison, but commitments may be a ways down the road.

"I’ll look to cut my list of schools sometime during my senior year of high school and move forward from there," Washington told MADE Hoops. "After I cut down my list I’ll then look for the best time to make a decision."

A decision from Wright could come sooner, but he also has a number of options on the table, including Illinois and Nebraska in the Big Ten.