MINNEAPOLIS _ Chet Holmgren grew six inches in eighth grade, a painful spurt that helped define the Minnehaha Academy 7-footer, now considered the top boys' basketball recruit in the nation.
"Chet's greatest attribute is how athletic he is," Minnehaha Academy coach Lance Johnson said of his returning senior, who recently moved up to the No. 1 boys' basketball recruit in the nation according to ESPN. "That sudden growth spurt didn't affect him athletically. What it showed was his mental toughness."
Agile and versatile on both ends of the court, Holmgren isn't imposing at first blush. But he's still intimidating, especially on defense with his nearly 90-inch wingspan to swat away presumably uncontested shots. More suited as a wing than a low-post player, he also can run the floor, filling the lane for a slam dunk or pull up and bury a 3-pointer with his feathery touch.
While his recruiting stock has gone up, Holmgren's list for a future college home narrowed Friday when he announced his final choices in a Twitter post showing seven college jerseys: Minnesota, Michigan, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Georgetown, Memphis and North Carolina. He had received offers from more than 30 schools.
"I think I fit in well at all the places I selected," Holmgren said. "They all have great coaching staffs, I see them becoming a big part of my family, and they will push me to get better."
With recruiting travel restricted like all sports, Holmgren has found himself of late doing a fair share of Zoom calls recently with college coaches.
"I just won't get the campus feel or experience," Holmgren said. "I've tried to enjoy every one of them, but it can get overwhelming. I'm taking it one step at a time."
