After requesting out of his letter of intent to Minnesota, former Gophers commit Dennis Evans is now committed to the University of Louisville, according to a number of media reports.
🚨BREAKING🚨 5⭐️ Center Dennis Evans tells me he has committed to Louisville #GoCards
Evans is an ELITE rim protector and will be successful in the ACC @TheAthletic
🎨 @rtpgfx pic.twitter.com/3sO7cCANWs
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) March 12, 2023
Evans initially committed to the Gophers last fall and was the program’s highest recruit since Kris Humphries signed with Minnesota for the 2003-04 season. The 7-foot-1 center even signed his letter of intent before formally requesting his release on Feb. 24.
The Riverside, Calif. native will now become the Cardinals’ highest-rated recruit under current head coach Kenny Payne, who led Louisville to a 4-28 record that was the worst season in the modern history of the program, but also has significantly more name, image and likeness money to reel in a recruit of Evans’s stature.
Not. Even. Close. The ‘U’ can’t compete NIL-wise with many.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 27, 2023
Money is just one problem for the Gophers, who went 9-22 with a 2-17 record in the Big Ten last season. Minnesota is also expected to lose Jamison Battle, who told head coach Ben Johnson that he is turning pro.
But the Gophers have some promise for next season as Dawson Garcia is expected to return after leading the Gophers with 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds last season.
With a young nucleus that includes Braeden Carrington, Pharrel Payne, Joshua Ola Joseph and four-star commit Cameron Christie, there is reason to think the Gophers will improve next season, but losing out on Evans remains a blow.
