Gophers’ basketball target Rashad Vaughn places more importance on one major facet of his recruiting process.

“Relationships are a big thing with me,” said Vaughn, the No. 6 recruit in the class of 2014 by Rivals.com. “If I [don’t have] a relationship with the coach, I probably won’t be going there.”

Vaughn — a junior at Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota — is developing a relationship with Minnesota’s staff. He talks to Gophers head coach Richard Pitino every other day and has a good relationship with assistant coach Kimani Young, he said.

Vaughn said Pitino has been very active in recruiting him.

“He’s very get-to-know-you,” Vaughn said. “During his open period he came to almost every game.”

Vaughn said fellow five-star 2014 recruit Theo Pinson’s recent commitment to North Carolina doesn’t affect his decision of whether or not to play for the Tar Heels, though he does look at who he would be playing with when considering schools. Vaughn nearly committed to North Carolina earlier this year, the Tar Heel Times reported.

Vaughn said he’s interested in the Gophers and likes the up-tempo style Pitino plans to put into play.

“I like them a lot,” he said. “They’re the hometown team. If I had a list, they’d be on there.”