Minnesota Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Golden Gophers

Key Reserves

Davonte Fitzgerald

The Arkansas transfer didn’t put up huge numbers at his last school, but coach Pitino is going to rely on Davonte Fitzgerald to provide some much-needed depth and leadership for his younger players. Davonte had an injury-laden career for the Razorbacks. Who knows what a change of scenery can do for the confidence level of a player. It is Davonte’s last year in college and it could be a big one.

Michael Hurt

The Minnesota native finished runner-up as the Minnesota Mr. Basketball to Amir Coffey when he was in high school. Hurt was a freshman last year and clearly had his struggles as the year went on.  The talent is there and he will be a big depth piece at the forward and wing positions for coach Pitino.

Jamir Harris

Harris is an incoming freshman from the Patrick School in New Jersey. He should be a good player for coach Pitino. He is a combo guard and will fill in nicely behind McBrayer. Harris is a good shooter from deep as he averaged about three made 3-pointers per game last year in high school. He is not the gem of the recruiting class, but Harris should fill a nice role for Minnesota in his first year.

Isaiah Washington

Washington is the gem of this recruiting class and a player who may force Coach Pitino to put him on the floor.  If any of the starters at guard start to struggle, Washington could start and Minnesota will not miss a beat. The player from Harlem has a tough demeanor and is so quick it’s almost impossible to keep him in front of you on defense. He can also shoot from deep pretty well.