Kadyn Betts Talks About Being a Gopher
Kadyn Betts, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward, who played at Pueblo (CO) Central last season and will play at Huntington Prep in West Virginia this year, has become the first Minnesota basketball commit for the Class of 2023.
Betts visited Minnesota in early May, while he and his p.l.u.t.o. Prospects AAU team were in town for the Battle of the Lake tournament. He also got to have some of his relatives at his games as he has several uncles and aunts in the Brainerd area.
Betts helped lead Central to the Class 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.
Betts comes from a basketball family. His father, Kevin, played at San Diego State and started every game for the Aztecs in 1996-97 and 1997-98 as a junior and senior and his brother, Kobi, played at Air Force.
The Gopher Report caught up with Betts Friday to learn the latest on his Minnesota commitment, AAU season and his upcoming senior year.
The Gopher Report: You committed to Minnesota. When did you actually commit to the Gophers?
Kadyn Betts: "I committed three nights ago."
The Gopher Report: What was the main reason that you decided that Minnesota was where you wanted to be?
Betts: "I have family down there and the relationship with the coaches. The facilities and their plans for me."
The Gopher Report: How did you keep it so quiet for three days? Usually, those things get out.
Betts: "It was hard, but I had to wait for the graphic to be done. It was hard. I wanted to tell everybody."
The Gopher Report: You just committed, but do you already feel a little bit of weight off your shoulders already having that decision done with?
Betts: "Yeah, I do. I do."
The Gopher Report: You are the first commit for the Class of 2023. Does that feel special, knowing that you are the first one?
Betts: "It does. It really does."
The Gopher Report: Have you talked to any other current players or anyone that that they are recruiting since you committed?
Betts: "I put it on my Instagram and Jamison Battle and Parker Fox, they all commented on it 'Let’s Work.'"
The Gopher Report: Did you get to know those guys a little bit when you visited back here in May?
Betts: "No, I didn’t get a chance. I don’t think that they were on campus."
The Gopher Report: Was it hard to tell certain programs “no” when you definitely decided you were going to Minnesota?
Betts: "It was a little difficult, just because they had been recruiting me for such a long time, but at the same time, you can’t really be bummed about going to the program that I have always wanted to go to. It’s kind of weird, but I was more excited than sad."
The Gopher Report: Did you have a Final Five at all or had you narrowed it down that much?
Betts: It did. I had a final three and then I just decided Minnesota was where I wanted to be. When they offered me, I knew that was where I was going to end up and that’s where I wanted to be.
The Gopher Report: What made you decide to commit when you did?
Kadyn Betts: Like I said, I knew I wanted to be there. Why wait? You know that is where you want to be. Get it done, you know what I’m saying.
The Gopher Report: I know that you are playing this year at Huntington Prep. How much do you think that is going to help you, because they play a national schedule and you have some very good teammates?
Betts: "I think it is going to help me tremendously. Help me get ready and prepared to play college ball."
The Gopher Report: I know watching you in person that you are versatile player who can handle the ball, score inside and do a little bit of everything. Have they talked to you much about how they are going to try and use you as a player at Minnesota?
Betts: "Not fully, yet. They just showed me the way that they play. They didn’t show me how they would completely use me, but the way they play, I fit in so perfectly there. If they want me to play on the wing, I can play on the wing. If they want me to be a 4 and guard the 4, I can be a 4 and be down low. Do whatever they need me to do."
The Gopher Report: Do you know when you are going to take your official visit yet?
Betts: "That’s in the works right now. We are trying to figure out a date."
The Gopher Report: Where are you playing in July with your AAU team?
Betts: "We are going to Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City Las Vegas and another one I can’t think of."
The Gopher Report: What do you want to tell Gopher fans?
Betts: "I’m just ready to get to work. Get to work."
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