Recruiting Report: Chet Holmgren (2021)
It was a memorable Sunday July 1st for Minnehaha Academy/Grassroots Minnesota 6-foot-11 center Chet Holmgren, a 2021 talent who has rare ability at his size. Chet earned a pair of high major offers as the big month begins.
In the last 12 months 6-foot-11 Chet Holmgren – who has a 7-foot-6 wingspan – has earned a state title with Minnehaha Academy as a freshman, he’s been a key piece of the Grassroots Sizzle 17u team despite playing up two levels, and yesterday he earned two high major scholarship offers and one was from his hometown Gopher team.
As a 2021 playing mainly in a 17u division made up of 2019 future division one players, Chet has given Grassoots Minnesota seven points and six rebounds a game shooting near 50 percent from the floor plus he’s hit a three in every other game in UAA play. Very impressive considering he is playing with Jalen Suggs, Dain Dainja and others.
“Playing for Grassroots Sizzle has been a huge part of making me the player I am now,” Chet said. “I have played in this organization my entire career and I have played with and practiced against great talent my whole career in Jalen Suggs and now Dain Dainja. You constantly learn and pick up new skill sets from playing both with and against great players like them.”
And if you are playing with the Sizzle, that means you are playing against the talent of the Under Armour circuit.
“The UAA has been a great experience for me especially being one of the youngest players on the 17u circuit,” Chet explained. “I get to play against players years older than me where I am physically outmatched which pushes me to become stronger as well as rely as much as I can on my skill set and basketball IQ to be effective rather than my physical attributes because at the next level that isn’t enough.”
A regular at the Grassroots Sizzle games has been Richard Pitino and the Minnesota staff. The Gophers offered Jalen Suggs they have offered Dain Dainja, and as of yesterday Richard Pitino offered Chet Holmgren.
“It’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling right now just the thought that my home team organization has the faith in me and my game to represent them.,” Chet said. “It makes me want to get in the gym right now and prove to everyone the offer is well deserved.”
Another reason the Gopher offer is unique is that Chet’s father David Holmgren played at Minnesota from 1984 to 1988 playing in 57 games.
“This opportunity is special to begin with however, just the opportunity to continue a legacy is special by itself,” Holmgren explained.
Of course Chet is young but already so experienced, he just finished up playing his freshman high school season on one of Minnesota’s most talented teams. Holmgren gave Minnehaha seven points, six rebounds, and a couple blocks a game competing along with five star Suggs, one of Minnesota’s top point guards and football players in Terry Lockett, one of the best football talents in Kaden Johnson, a top 2022 in Prince Aligbe, and Denver signed JaVonni Bickham.
Holmgren is just starting to get to know the Gopher coaches as he enters his sophomore year of high school.
“I’m not extremely close to them however I look forward to getting closer and I know the staff at Minnesota are very good at what the do,” Chet said. And from what my teammates Jalen Suggs and Dain Dainjawho also have Minnesota offers say, (the coaches) are great at what they do.”
The Gophers will have a battle on their hands. Holmgren’s first high major offer came from Texas A&M less than an hour before the Gophers extended, and several other schools are in contact.
“I just received a offer from Texas A&M minutes before Minnesota but I have interest from schools including Iowa, Oklahoma, Baylor, West Virginia, Tulane, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, Portland, Xavier, and a few others I can’t remember off the top of my head.”
Keep an eye out for Holmgren going forward as he is about to be the next high rated Minnesota talent that will become a national recruit.