When Golden Gopher basketball coach Tubby Smith set forth his recruiting strategy for his first class, he knew he needed to add size and strength and made it a priority to find himself a banger down low. Not only did Smith bring in one of the nation’s Top 20 recruiting classes, but he added two pillars to the class that should provide a formidable front line for years to come. And Smith didn’t have to travel far when adding an important piece of the class, as 6-10, 235lb big man, Colton Iverson, will join the Gophers next season after completing his high school career at Yankton High School in South Dakota.

Basketball has been a part of Iverson’s life from the day he was born. A basketball family at its core, both of Colton’s parents played college basketball as well as his sisters. After turning down scholarship offers from two-time defending champion Florida Gators, as well as Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State and Creighton, the Gophers got involved in Iverson’s recruitment late in the game. But an impressive official visit, a budding friendship with fellow big man and recruit Ralph Sampson III, and noting that the coaching staff and school “felt the best,” Iverson pulled the trigger and became an integral piece of a recruiting class that hopes to turn the Gopher program around.

Iverson is in the midst of his senior season, a year in which he consistently puts up double-doubles, despite facing nightly double and triple teams. Iverson took time out of his busy schedule to chat with GopherHole about his senior season, the style of his game, his reasons for choosing the Gophers and his impressive basketball family pedigree.


GH: How is your senior season going?

Iverson: Our team this season has had its ups and downs. We started off a little inexperienced with me as only starter back but our other guys have really been stepping up as we have been ranked 5th in state after beating 2nd ranked Roosevelt.

GH: From the articles that Gopher fans have been reading about you, it sounds as if you get a lot of double and triple teams. Does this help your passing game and/or post moves?

Iverson: A lot of teams base their defenses around me and double or even triple team me so I always try to find the open guys instead of forcing shots. It is usually challenging going up against these defenses so it is probably helping my offense get better every game.

GH: Various articles list you at different heights. I think you’ve been listed from 6-7 all the way to 6-11. Let’s set the record straight – how tall are you?

Iverson: I am 6-10 bare foot which puts me at right around 6-11 with my shoes on.

GH: What is the level of competition like in South Dakota?

Iverson: I think the level of competition in South Dakota is pretty high in class AA. Every team is very competitive and has good players that work hard.

GH: Heading into college, what areas of your game do you need to work on most?

Iverson: I need to improve in every aspect going from high school to Big 10 basketball but I think maybe improving my strength is what I'm going to need more of right away.

GH: How would you describe your game to Gopher fans that haven’t seen you play yet? Who would you compare your game to?

Iverson: I think I'm going to be a banger in the paint and try to get things done inside. I like going for loose balls and hustle plays. I've heard some compare me to Joe Krabbenoft from Wisconsin.

GH: What is your weight and workout routine like during the season and during the offseason?

Iverson: My weight is 235 and during the season I am lifting from 2 to 3 times a week with a special workout. This summer I will be on campus doing the workouts with the strength coach.

GH: Looking back at your recruitment, what impressed you most about Minnesota?

Iverson: Minnesota actually came on to my list late in the process and I knew Coach Smith was there so I decided to look into it with the new coaching staff and it just felt right.

GH: You and Ralph Sampson III took your visits together and reportedly you quickly became friends. Did you help sway his decision to come to Minnesota?

Iverson: We did have our visits together and got to know each other but I did not sway him anyway at all.

GH: You are a part of one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, have you had a chance to meet or at least talk to the other recruits?

Iverson: I have been talking to Ralph but yet to meet the other guys.

GH: How much of a role did Tubby Smith factor into your decision to play for the Gophers?

Iverson: He and the coaching staff were the major factor in my decision.

GH: The other schools that you were seriously looking at included Florida and Nebraska. What did you like about Minnesota more than these schools?

Iverson: All my final schools were great places that I believed I couldn't make the wrong choice any way I went but I went and took the visits and Minnesota just felt the best.

GH: You attended a Gopher game at The Barn a few weeks back – what were your impressions of the team and the atmosphere?

Iverson: I like the way the team is working very hard and are very committed to this season and the atmosphere in the Barn was very impressive.

GH: What are your individual and team goals in college?

Iverson: We obviously are going for the Big Ten Championship and making the Final Four trips as a team.

GH: You come from a family that is very much into basketball. How has this influenced your growth as a player?

Iverson: Ever since I was born I've been around basketball. My dad has been coaching college basketball ever since he graduated from college and both my parents played college basketball and same with my sisters.


Talk about Colton Iverson on Tubby's Barn message board.