Brady Wooley, a 6-foot-8 forward of Long Lake (Minn.) Orono, is considered one of the top players in the state of Minnesota in the Class of 2025. Wooley attended Minnesota’s camp for the top eighth and ninth graders and the Minnesota Team Camp and is coached by former Gopher Barry Wohler.
The Gopher Report recently caught up with Wooley after the Breakdown Summer Series to learn the latest about his early recruitment, comparisons to a former area standout and the upcoming sophomore season.
The Gopher Report: Busy weekend for you guys. You played at the Minnesota team camp and the Breakdown Summer Series today. What was it like playing at the team camp?
Brady Wooley: It was a lot of fun. I liked seeing the Minnesota coaches out there. It was a great competition and I feel like we could have done better as a team, but, overall, I think we are going to be really good this year.
The Gopher Report: Did you hear anything from the coaches, either from your head coach from the Gopher coaches yesterday?
Brady Wooley: Yes. One of the coaches was talking to me and my coach, Barry Wohler, saying that they’ve got their eyes on my now.
The Gopher Report: How does that make you feel?
Brady Wooley: Really good. I’m excited. I’m going to put a lot of work in and hopefully, we can see some offers.
The Gopher Report: I know you mostly play JV last year. Did you play any varsity?
Brady Wooley: I played varsity towards the end of the season.
The Gopher Report: You lost a key few seniors from last year’s team (including two of their top four scorers). What are the expectations for Orono next year? I know that you have some talented young players coming back.
Brady Wooley: We have a very good 2025 class and the juniors that were playing this year, I have very high hopes for them. I think that we are really going to stand out.
The Gopher Report: You just finished school and are now technically a sophomore. What does that feel like?
Brady Wooley: Better than being a freshman.
The Gopher Report: Because of that, are you expecting to be a little bit more of a leader next year with the team?
Brady Wooley: Yes. That’s my goal. I want to standout out of everyone else and be a captain, even though only senior are captains. I want to play like one and communicate like one and help my teammates. Lift them up.
The Gopher Report: You are playing AAU with Howard Pulley. You also played in some events with BDBL.
Brady Wooley: That was my own team and my dad’s team. We just made it, so when we have off weekends, we can play some local tournaments.
The Gopher Report: How much has playing with Pulley helped you, because you are playing on a talented team? How much do you think that has helped your development?
Brady Wooley: A lot. I am going to be playing in the Circuit pretty soon in the next tournament coming up. I think that I’ve improved a lot with that. With the physicality. With larger kids.
The Gopher Report: What things are you really working on to improve yourself as a player?
Brady Wooley: Right now, I’m trying to gain weight because I want to be stronger in the paint. Just overall, my endurance and my mentality with the game.
The Gopher Report: Do you know Jon Leuer, a player from Orono who played at Wisconsin and the NBA? Have you seen him play and are people maybe comparing you to him?
Brady Wooley: I’ve heard some stuff like that. I know his dad. He coaches 9A at my school and so I’ve seen him at a couple of practices and talked to him. I’ve heard some comparisons like that.
The Gopher Report: What would it mean to play Division I basketball?
Brady Wooley: That would mean a lot to me. That’s really what I’m going for here
The Gopher Report: What would it mean to maybe play for the homestate school?
Brady Wooley: That would be amazing.
