Junior Grayson Grove Garners Gopher Attention

Grayson Grove, a 6-foot-8 forward of Alexandria (Minn.) High, is considered one of the top player in the state of Minnesota in the Class of 2024. Grove recently played in the Breakdown Summer Series and Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase.

The Gopher Report recently caught up with Grove after the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase to learn the latest about his early recruitment, comparisons to a former area standout and the upcoming sophomore season.

The Gopher Report: I know that earlier this month, coaches could finally call you for the first time. What schools did you end up hearing from?

Grayson Grove: A couple of schools I heard from was Iowa State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Loyola of Chicago, Appalachian State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Illinois State.

The Gopher Report: That has to make you feel very proud that all your hard work is paying off?

Grayson Grove: Yeah, it is.

The Gopher Report: Had you been hearing from many schools or were you surprised by how many schools you heard from?

Grayson Grove: I was surprised that I heard from so many so early, because obviously, I’m still new to the recruiting process, so it was nice to know that people see what I can do.

The Gopher Report: I know that you played at the Breakdown Summer Series this past weekend with your high school team. What was that experience like getting to build some chemistry for the upcoming season?

Grayson Grove: It’s good. We are going to be good. We have a lot of new guys who have never played against varsity guards or posts, so it was good for them to get out there. We are just going to keep getting better as the season goes along.

The Gopher Report: You lost some key seniors, including Kristen Hoskins (who signed with Minnesota for football). How do you see your role changing from last year to this year?

Grayson Grove: Last year, I wasn’t much of a ballhandler. I was kind of just a post-up guy, maybe hit a couple of shots on the perimeter. This year, I think I’ll have to take the ball up a few more times, if the guards need help, which might happen. From my standpoint, if they put a big guy on me, I’ll be able to take him one-on-one and a small guy, I’ll be able to post up.

The Gopher Report: You just finished school and are now technically a junior. Does that feel weird?

Grayson Grove: Yes, it does. High school is going by fast.

The Gopher Report: You are going to have a chance to play college basketball. What is that going to mean to you?

Grayson Grove: It’s going to mean the world to me. It’s not an opportunity that a lot of guys get. I have a really supportive family. They do a really good job of bringing me places. Coaching me to do my best, so it’s going to feel good.

The Gopher Report: Do you come from a basketball family?

Grayson Grove: All of my cousins played. None of them went to college, but my mom (Angie Converse Grove) was a volleyball player, so that is really I got my athleticism. She played at NDSU. She is in the Hall of Fame now (a 2016 selection who was first time Division II All-American in 1993 and second team in 1991).

The Gopher Report: You are playing AAU with D1 Minnesota and playing in some big events next month. How much do you think that has helped your game?

Grayson Grove: Just insanely. Our coach is really good at pushing me. He is teaching me a lot of new things. He is taking me some one-on-one sessions, so he has probably helped more than anyone.

The Gopher Report: You mentioned the homestate school. What are you hearing from the Gophers?

Grayson Grove: Ben Johnson just texted me. He just wanted to reach out to me and he said that I should go and watch one of their practices, summer workouts.

The Gopher Report: They have a little bit of an Alexandria connection lately, with Hoskins there for football and Treyton Thompson there for basketball. What would it mean to maybe have the opportunity to play for the homestate school?

Grayson Grove: That would be awesome. It would be a lot of fun. Fun experience. I think a lot of people want me to get an offer from there, play there. All my cousins are huge Gopher fans. They know all the guys. Thy obviously want me to go there.

The Gopher Report: Did you get a chance to go to any college games this year?

Grayson Grove: I went to the round of 32 for the NCAA Tournament. I watched Purdue play Yale.

The Gopher Report: Did you go to any Gopher games?

Grayson Grove: I did not.

The Gopher Report: Have you been to a game at Williams Arena?

Grayson Grove: Yes, I have.