Is there a more unique player in high school basketball than Chet Holmgren? One of the most versatile prospects that the sport has seen in recent years, Holmgren ascended into the elite tier within his class’ rankings last summer and has cemented his standing ever since thanks to his combination of size, dexterity, shot making and shot blocking.
In our latest Q-and-A session, we spoke with the top-five junior to hear his thoughts on what he took from his junior season, the various national brands recruiting him, who he plans to spend an official visit on, when he might commit and what the coronavirus means in his own eyes.
Corey Evans (CE): How did your junior year go?
Chet Holmgren (CH): It had its ups and downs. Overall, it was a great learning experience. I have just tried to take the most out of every situation. There was some injuries during the season that were frustrating and I think we had six new guys playing so it was definitely new to everybody playing together and we were kind of finding our groove as the season went on and trying to find a way to play with and off of each other. We were starting to play together towards the end of the year, though.
CE: What has been the one thing that you have focused in upon that you feel that you need to get better at or have gotten better at over the past four or five months?
CH: Being able to score on all three levels whenever and wherever, but mostly down in the post. Before this season, I wasn’t comfortable down in the post, especially through contact. I wouldn’t even say for a lack of strength but because I was just shying away from contact too much but it was something that I worked on a lot this year since we played with four point guards so there wasn’t much room for me to be out handling the ball a lot. I still used all of that game but definitely had to develop more post work in my game.
CE: You have always been someone that have prided yourself on being so unique and having really no true position. What is that like for you?
CH: I just try to be the most versatile person that I can be and it doesn’t have to be one dimensional. I want to be able to do whatever my matchup leads me to do. If I have someone put on me that is shorter and quicker than I am, I am not going to take him out onto the wing; I am going to take him down low. If I have someone bigger and slower than me, I am going to try and have him chase me off of pin-downs and curls on the wing. I have never tried to play into the defense’s hands but rather, use my physical advantages to my own advantages and that is why it worked so well with my post game this year.
2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 Rankings: Rivals150 | Position
2022 Rankings: Top 75
CE: Is that some of the things that you’re looking forward to for college, that is having the right scheme and role to excel at the next level?
CH: Yeah, for sure. I don’t want to end up somewhere that I am just going to be a one-dimensional player but I want to be able to showcase my versatility and do what I have to do depending on what the game calls for. I don’t want to have just to set picks and roll to the rim every game, all game long. If somebody can’t guard me in the post, I would like to be able to take him down to the post, and if someone can’t guard me on the wing, I would like to have the freedom to go and operate on the wing, as well as stretch the floor and shoot the ball from distance; basically whatever the game calls from me.
CE: What schools do you feel like have done a good job of staying in touch with you of late and has made you a priority?
CH: Definitely, Minnesota, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Memphis, UNC, Ohio State and then one or two others.
CE: You have taken two officials so far?
CH: Yeah, I went to Gonzaga and Ohio State.
CE: How was Gonzaga and having someone like Jalen (Suggs) going there potentially, too?
CH: It was amazing. I was very glad that I went and I couldn’t have asked for a better visit. It is kind of like Minnesota weather wise. It is a decent sized city, not super big but not super small, but it is a decent sized college. It is definitely somewhere I can see myself going and focusing in on however long I am there for.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CE: What about Ohio State? What was the vibe like there?
CH: Yeah, I loved it. It is a huge sports school so pretty much everything there revolves around its sports. There is a huge legacy there, not just with basketball but with football and all of the accomplishments they have made. It is definitely another place that I could see myself being at for a decent amount of time.
CE: What about Minnesota? Every year, there seems to be a next man up from the state; what has been there sell to you and what is that connection like with your father playing there during his own college days?
CH: It is definitely good there with them. We have had a relationship for a while. They offered me my freshman year, first time that I was playing 17-under on the travel circuit and it has been building since then. Coach (Rob) Jeter, he just moved on to the head coach job at Western Illinois so I am happy for him and I am just continuing to build a relationship with Coach (Richard) Pitino and the other coaches on the staff. I also live ten minutes away from the campus, my dad used to go there, my mom used to work for a wing at the university and again, there is just a legacy there.
CE: North Carolina is a school that could lose a lot in the frontcourt next year so what is your thoughts on that program?
CH: It is definitely, again, the legacy there with its basketball program is crazy. To think that I have the chance to play in the same place that Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and the list goes on, it is pretty crazy the guys that have gone there. Coach (Roy) Williams, he is great at what he does and has been there for a long time. I am very interested in them and there is reasons for why I am not rushing things and taking my time with my recruitment because there is so much that goes into how you fit into a school based off the personnel that they have and you just don’t know until right up until after your senior year with who is going to be there, who is leaving and if there is six big dudes at a school, it is definitely going to be something that weighs into my decision.
CE: Memphis is a new one that has jumped into your recruitment. What do they mean to you and how do they stand out compared to all others?
CH: They have just been preaching to me a lot of the knowledge that they have which is a crazy amount, not only through their own experience but them being around others who have experienced all that can just be soaked up which would help me. They talk about how they can help my game and help me to become ready for the NBA game and about how I would fit into the system and playing style, which is an NBA playing style, and they like to get up and down which is what I like to do, that is to get up and down and to play in space.
CE: It sounds like you have a good idea of how you want your recruitment to go but how do you want this all to play out over the long haul?
CH: Well, starting with the short-term, I’d like to have the coronavirus go away so that I can play my last little bit of AAU, and then, after that, I am probably going to start doing some boxing-like training so that I can get back into shape. There are no gyms open in Minnesota right now so staying in basketball shape isn’t going to be the same as just going on a three-mile run; it is just so much different. From there, I will probably start weight training but I still have to figure out the logistics of that. Then, go into high school basketball, have a great senior year, hopefully be able to take all five official visits next year, that is always hard though because after two or three, you kind of don’t want to do anymore because it gets to be a lot. I am going to watch a whole lot of basketball and pay attention to who leaves, stays and graduates, and then continue to listen to the coaches recruiting me and see what I like and where I fit in.
CE: So, you are thinking about having a spring commitment next year?
CH: Yeah, most likely it will be after the college season wraps up.
CE: Were you hoping you take any official visits this spring, that was until the coronavirus wiped things out?
CH: I didn’t have any officially set up but I was planning on doing some, especially since I had more free time compared to the high school season.
CE: Who were you trying to see? Anyone specifically?
CH: I don’t know exactly what schools it would have been but I definitely am going to try and see Memphis, UNC, and get out to Georgetown again. From there, I would have figured out next year later on.
CE: Lastly, what has this whole pandemic been like for you? This is supposed to be your final season on the travel circuit. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?
CH: Yeah, this is supposed to be my last hoo-rah and it kind of just got dumped on. I tried to just go up to the park and play basketball because that gets my mind off everything but then my parents wouldn’t let me do that since there is state lockdown so I have to stay at home. I still go out to the back and shoot and we have some weights in the basement, I lift down there, but other than that, it is pretty much eat, sleep and play video games, just because there is really nothing else you can do.