Recruiting Report: Sam Baker (2016)
Update from 9/12/15 by Alex Conover Benilde St. Margaret's 6-foot-4 senior Sam Baker told RJ about his upcoming visits just last week. And it didn't take long for a commitment. Earlier today, Sam announced via Twitter that he had committed to…
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Continue ReadingUpdate from 9/12/15 by Alex Conover
Benilde St. Margaret's 6-foot-4 senior Sam Baker told RJ about his upcoming visits just last week. And it didn't take long for a commitment.
Earlier today, Sam announced via Twitter that he had committed to Winona State University, a D2 program out of the Northern Sun conference. Winona was on him this summer, and they offered after they saw his potential at the shooting guard position.
“I'm just beyond blessed, man,” Baker told me today. “It feels good to know exactly where I'm going and to know that my parents won't have to be paying tuition.”
There was naturally some uncertainty following Winona State coach Mike Leaf's abrupt resignation this summer, but assistant coach Zach Malvik assured Baker that his offer still stood. After hiring new coach Todd Eisner from Midland University (NAIA), the program looks to be in good hands. There aren't any players transferring out after the coaching change, either.
After visiting Winona today, Baker told the coaching staff about his decision.
“I love the feeling there. Between the plan the coaches have and the players who are there already, it feels like home,” Baker said.?
Winona State finished last season with a 14-13 record. The program won Division II national titles in 2006 and 2008.
September 5th Update
Sam Baker has full confidence that he will be one of the best scorers in Class AAA basketball this year and after a fantastic 17U season with Minnesota Select Altenhofen there aren’t too many out there who will disagree.
“I feel great about the upcoming season and am ready to dominate Class AAA. I believe I'm the best scorer,” Sam explained. “To meet my goals I just work on my mass to go where I want and jumping ability a bit more.”
Baker’s game evolved in front of everybody in Minnesota playing with Minnesota Select.
“My strength was shooting but after a long tough (Grassroots) season the contact seems to just come naturally, just finishing easy and ones,” Baker said. “And overall I loved my (Grassroots) season cause all my very best friends were on one team!”
Baker has a couple visits planned and continues to hear regularly from six different D2 schools on a regular basis.
“I'm going to be visiting both Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul within the next two weeks and hope to set up another one with Augustana. But right now on me the most is Winona State, Concordia St. Paul, Augustana, Minot State, Trevecca in Tennessee, and Central Missouri.”
Update from 9/2/15 by Alex Conover
After a really nice spring and summer for Select Altenhofen, Sam Baker landed his name on many D2 recruiting lists. Offers from Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul got the party started, and Baker is hoping that with mutual interest and communication, more will come.
“I’ve just been talking to all the schools that have been looking at me,” Baker told NHR. “I’ve talked to Winona a lot, and I plan to visit and meet the coach soon! I’ve also been talking with Concordia, but I haven’t scheduled another visit. Minot State has been reaching out a lot lately, and I’m hoping for another scholarship from them. Central Michigan a little bit, too.”
He felt comfortable enough to release a pair of schools he likes the most, although it could change over time.
“I really like Augustana, too, and I’m hoping a scholarship is coming soon. Auggie and Winona are both tied for my top pick right now. I like the way they play and that they have good fans. I also like the area in which both schools are located. There doesn’t have to be a lot for me to do, all I’m going to want to do is hoop!”
In the offseason, Sam has been doing a daily Crossfit program to get everything stronger. Watch out for Benilde-St. Margaret’s this winter as the senior combo of Baker and Eli Cave continues to improve before our eyes.
Update on April 29th (RJ)
It’s been all about steps forward for Benilde-St. Margaret’s scoring guard Sam Baker. His team won 10 games this year and Sam led with 16 points a night but they grabbed a playoff win and Sam had 48 points in two playoff games.
From there Baker has produced for Select Althenhofen who played better than expected in every event so far this year. Sam has often been to a go to scorer for the team which he did in high school this year but the level of play has been a step up and Sam has stood out.
“Things are going really good,” said Baker. “I love my teammates and coaching staff. The year has gone good. I think those last five minutes as a unit my team will agree we have to close out better for example against Fury.”
Baker is on the radar of college programs at the scholarship level.
“A lot of high division twos are showing interest. Winona State a lot, Southwest State a lot, Bemidji State, Central and Eastern Michigan a little bit, and Sioux Falls.”
Baker isn’t the only Red Knight taking big steps. Eli Cave has made a lot of eye popping plays this April plus Derek Drees and Matt Lilienthal are both coming off solid years.
“Yeah I’m excited for next year,” said Sam. “We are going to be state bound I think so we'll see man!”
Update from 4/24/15 by Alex Conover
Recruiting is just picking up for Sam Baker, a 6-foot-4 wing from Benilde-St. Margaret’s who made the switch this spring to playing with Minnesota Select.
“I like playing with Select Altenhofen because I play a lot, and that's good for me and my recruitment so coaches can see what I play like when I'm tired,” Baker said. “Also, it's nice to change it up a little bit and and get a different feel. What has surprised me is the chemistry we had right off the bat; we are a solid team, and I think we can compete with anybody when we close out the last couple minutes.”
He’s right. In the two times Select Alt has played against Fury Wilde, a team that could potentially yield 4-6 Division I prospects, Baker’s squad has lost by less than six points each time.
After growing a couple inches last year and becoming stronger, Baker is looking more and more like a scholarship-level prospect.
“I’ve been talking to Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Winona State a lot and SMSU a lot,” Baker said. “Other than that, I hope to pick up some more D2 looks or some offers after these next couple weeks. Division doesn’t matter to me, really, I just want to be the best player I can be.”
Baker’s next tournament with Select Altenhofen is this weekend at the NY2LA Spring Extravaganza, which is held in the western suburbs of Minneapolis.
Update from 10/17/14 by Alex Conover
Sam Baker (#42 in NHR’s class of 2016 rankings) has had the good fortune of growing a couple inches and doing well at fall combines like the Select Showcase and the Comets Showcase. Interest is beginning to roll in for the junior out of Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
“Iowa State, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, Iowa, Augustana, Northern State, Sioux Falls,” Baker listed as schools to send mail with preliminary interest or to otherwise reach out. “My varsity coach and Bo Ryan are friends, and he was asking about me. They sent some letters.”
In addition to sprouting to 6-foot-4, Baker has also put on 15 pounds. His dad stands 6-foot-5, and Baker says doctors predicted he could be as tall as 6-6 or 6-7 when it’s all said and done.
“I became a lot stronger and now getting to the basket is easy, because I'm usually stronger than my defender,” Baker said. “I’ve been shooting from deeper and working on my post game.”
Eli Cave and Jalen Floyd will help Baker out on varsity this year. Baker says he likes BSM because of the quality education and his fellow students and names Minnetonka, Hopkins and Champlin as this year’s toughest opponents.