Minnesota Big Man Boden Kapke Draws Near Decision
Boden Kapke, a 6-foot-11, 244-pound rising senior from Victoria (Minn.) Holy Family Catholic, is one of the top Midwest big men in the Class of 2023. He became the third in-state player from the Class of 2023 to receive a scholarship offer from Minnesota last fall and attended the Gopher football game versus Bowling Green and watched Minnesota face Iowa and Wisconsin in basketball.
Kapke averaged 27.2 points, 14.7 rebounds per game this season, scoring in double figures in all 28 games. He has 24 games of 20 points or more points, including a career-high and school record 43 against Southwest Christian. Holy Family finished the season 14-14, losing to Rockford 71-61 in the Section 5AA quarterfinals.
Kapke averaged 16.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this past season as a sophomore, scoring in double figures in 15 of 17 games. He had five games of 20 points or more points, including a season-high 26 against Waconia and Breck. Holy Family finished 9-10, losing to Minneapolis North 84-47 in the Section 5AA finals.
The Gopher Report caught up with Kapke Sunday at the Breakdown Summer State Series to learn the latest on his recruitment, official visits and AAU season.
The Gopher Report: You finished school recently. You are technically a senior. Does that feel weird?
Boden Kapke: A little bit. I think that I’m just excited to enjoy my last year of high school, so it should be fun.
The Gopher Report: You been playing very well in AAU with D1 Minnesota. How pleased are you with how well you and the team has been playing so far this year?
Boden Kapke: So far, as a team, we lost a couple of close ones, so it would be nice to finish those out. I think that once we start finishing games, which we’ve shown what we can do in this last month, I think we can be really dangerous. Personally, I think my shot could have been falling a little better as my three-pointer, but I’ve been working on it. I think that I am ready to come back in July and play good.
The Gopher Report: I know that you have another big man that you added to your high school team. Is that something that you like since last year, you had another big kid who came in and allowed you to play the four and five? Do you like having another big man to go along with you, since at the Class AA level, teams are going to try and double and triple team you, because they don’t have a lot of size?
Boden Kapke: Yes, for sure. It definitely takes some pressure off me, which is nice and like you said, be play to play multiple positions, both inside and out. I like that opportunity to be able to play both.
The Gopher Report: What are the expectations at Holy Family this season?
Boden Kapke: Obviously, we want to win a state championship, but that starts with just being successful in the regular season, getting a good section seed and then winning that. It’s just one step at a time.
The Gopher Report: Have you guys gotten to play a lot? I know it is hard with AAU and other things going on, but usually in June, you get to play a little bit more with your team. Have you gotten to do a lot of things so far?
Boden Kapke: We’ve been at the gym at Holy Family, just working out, running up and down and we played today and yesterday, so it is good to get in the gym with them.
The Gopher Report: You were at the Minnesota team camp. What was that like?
Boden Kapke: It was fun. I think it was kind of the first time that we got to play with everyone together. I think we were kind of figuring it out, but once we got that figured out, we were playing well.
The Gopher Report: What’s the latest on your recruitment right now?
Boden Kapke: Right now, I think we’re going to be making a decision within the next month, but other than that, we are keeping all of our options open and we are going to try to make one right before school starts.
The Gopher Report: Do you have a Top 5 at all or have you even narrowed it down that much yet?
Boden Kapke: We haven’t narrowed it down yet, but we are just going to see what happens here.
The Gopher Report: Do you know what schools you are going to try to make official visits to?
Boden Kapke: For sure, we know we are going to try to make one to Clemson. I’m not sure when yet. We are still working on that.
The Gopher Report: What are going to be the main factors that are going to make you pick School A over School B or C?
Boden Kapke: We got our three things that we talk about with me and my family. Good academics. We want to be able to like the program and if you weren’t to go to play basketball at the college, would you still want to go to the college. Do you like the college itself ? Those are some factors.
The Gopher Report: Has it been a little bit hard, because I feel kids in your class, it is hard with the transfer portal and schools that you might have liked, but they might have added a transfer and then might not have a scholarship? Has that been hard to watch certain schools and you probably have had to do a little more homework than normal to make sure that there are some good opportunities for you?
Boden Kapke: Yes, for sure. I think it is different, but I think that we are adapting well. My coaches have helped me through it and I think that I’ll just keep working and focusing on what I can control and then the opportunities will come.
The Gopher Report: What about the homestate school? I know they like you but I know that they don’t have a ton of scholarships. What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Boden Kapke: We talked to them yesterday and we’re just going to figure things out. See how it goes. They are just figuring it all out with who they have coming in and how they are going to play and what’s going to happen, so we are just figuring it out there.
The Gopher Report: If you are looking at Clemson, distance isn’t really a big deal to you, right?
Boden Kapke: My parents always say that it would be nice to be able to watch the home games, but obviously, that is lower on the priorities.
The Gopher Report: When you step onto that college court for the first time as a freshman, what is that going to mean to you?
Boden Kapke: I think that’s going to really cool. I’ve always wanted to play college basketball. It’s always been my dream. Playing in front of big crowds is fun. We’ve had a couple of big games at Holy Family. I’m sure that it is going to be ten times that at college, so I’m going to be excited for that.
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