Kadyn Betts picks up Minnesota offer during recent visit
Kadyn Betts, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward from Pueblo (CO) Central visited MinnesotaFriday, while he and his P.L.U.T.O. Prospects AAU team were in town for the Battle of the Lake tournament.
Betts helped lead Central to theClass 4A Final Four, losing to Palmer 79-65 at the Denver Coliseum, despite making 12 of 21 shots and finishing with 32 points and 14 rebounds. He was named the MVP of South-Central League as the Wildcats finished 23-4 for the season.
The Gopher Report caught up with Betts Saturday to learn the latest on his Minnesota offers, AAU season and his upcoming senior year.
THE GOPHER REPORT: I know that you were in town for this tournament, but you also got a chance to visit Minnesota. I know that the Gophers have been one of the schools that has been recruiting you hard. What was that experience like?
KADYN BETTS: "It was crazy. All the coaches there are awesome. Coach Johnson is the coolest coach that I have been with and their facilities there are second to none. They have crazy facilities and I like the Barn. The Barn is a crazy place and they say that the atmosphere on game days is like nothing else."
TGR: You have some ties to Minnesota with family and friends, right?
BETTS: "I have aunt and uncles, who actually came to the game and I have a bunch of family on my mom’s side that lives out here."
TGR: Is your mom from here originally?
BETTS: "No, we are from Pueblo, Colorado, but then they just moved out here."
TGR: Do you get to see them often?
BETTS: "We used to comeout here for vacations, up inBrainerd. Go to Zorba’s and all that, but recently, we haven’t been able to see them."
TGR: Are you liking the recruiting process or are youseeing how it can be overwhelming at times?
BETTS: "Oh, no doubt, it gets overwhelming, but then I have to remind myself how blessed I am to be in this situation, so I love it. I love it."
TGR: Last July, you got your first offer from Northern Colorado. Is it kind ofcrazy how things have changed in a little less than a year?
BETTS: "It really is. It’s just crazy. Couple of years ago, I was dreaming getting my first Division I offer and now receiving Power 5 offers, is just something that I dreamed of."
TGR: Has Minnesota offered yet. I know that there were some rumors that they might?
BETTS: "They did, yesterday (Friday)."
TGR: What was the feeling when you heard that?
BETTS: "Nothing but joy. Nothing but joy. Minnesota has always been one of those schools that I’ve always wanted to go to with my family, being in the Big Ten and with them offering, it was just nothing but joy. Just smiles."
TGR: Have you thought about when you would even try to decide on a school?
BETTS: "I thought about it to myself a little bit, but I haven’t narrowed it down to anything."
TGR: What are going are going to be the main factors that make you pick School A over School B or C?
BETTS: "A great relationship with the coaches. A place where I can develop and a great system that I can fit into and start playing."
TGR: What other schools are you hearing from the most right now?
BETTS: "I'm hearing a lot from Iowa State, BYU, Utah, Colorado, Rice, and Colorado State."
TGR: How many offers are you up to right now?
BETTS: "Yesterday (Friday), was my sixth."
TGR: What is it going to mean playing Division 1 basketball?
BETTS: "It means everything to me. My father played at San Diego State (Kevin started every game for the Aztecs in 1996-97 and 1997-98 as a junior and senior) and my brother (Kobi) played atAir Force. Just playing Division I basketball is something that I have always dreamed of doing and hopefully, going to the next step as well."
TGR: Obviously, basketball is in the blood. Is thatwhere you picked up your loveof the game?
BETTS: "Yes, that’s what it was. Just playing with my older brother outside and him beating me up and me just wanting to get better, so I could finally beat him one day."
TGR: Do you guys still play?
BETTS: "Yes, we still play."
TGR: Does it get heated or has it mellowed out?
BETTS: "It gets very heated, actually. My mom doesn’t like it too much."
TGR: Does you mom have a basketball background,too?
BETTS: "She played in high school. She just loves watching the game."
TGR: Is that nice that you had that family support with relatives here this weekend?
BETTS: "It’s extremely nice even though sometimes my mom will be on me for not rebounding in one game or something like that, but it is very nice."
TGR: What is it going to feel like when you walk on to that college court your very game as a freshman?
BETTS: "Man, it’s going to feel amazing. Just my dream coming true. It would feel amazing for like a couple of days and then I know that it’s time to get to work, so I can go play at the next level."
TGR: When do youthink that you might try to makean announcement on a school?
BETTS: "I’m hoping in the fall."
TGR: You had a really good senior guard Syris Williams (who was also first-team All-South-Central League along with Betts) this year at Pueblo Central. What is your role going to be like next year? Is that going to change much with him gone?
BETTS: "I think so. I think I’ll become more of a point forward, but we are looking at some other options as well for schools.
TGR: You mean you might not go to Pueblo Central? What schools might you look at?
BETTS: "We are thinking about going to prep school, Huntington Prep (located in West Virginia). We’re not a 1000% sure yet."
TGR: What are you hoping to improve on the most this upcoming year?
BETTS: "I really want toget my ball handling down, so I can get it on a string, so I am more of a point forward than being a small forward on the court. Being able to bring it up."
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