Three highly rated recruits signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play for the University of Minnesota.
Arkansas native Eric Curry, and Minnesota natives Amir Coffey and Michael Hurt are set to join the program for the 2016-17 season.
Coffey is the highest rated recruit in the class, getting four stars from ESPN.com and ranking No. 33 overall for the class of 2016.
Coffey, a guard, is the highest rated recruit to sign with the Gophers since Kris Humphries in 2003.
Coffey averaged 14.3 points per game his sophomore season. Before tearing his ACL last season Coffey was averaging 30 points in his first two games.
“Amir is a tremendous player and addition to our team,” head coach Richard Pitino said, per the team’s official website. “He can contribute in a number of ways – offensively, he is a good scorer while also being able to create for others.”
Coffey’s father Richard Coffey played for the Gophers from 1986-1990.
Coffey helped perennial Minnesota high school powerhouse Hopkins to the state championship game during the 2013-14 season, but narrowly lost to Lakeville North.
Coffey also had offers from Michigan State and Wisconsin, according to ESPN.com.
Curry, a power forward, is listed as a three star recruit by ESPN.com.
He averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season, and helped lead Southwestern Christian Academy to the 2014 National Association of Christian Athletes Division 4 National Championship.
“Eric Curry is a perfect fit for the type of player we are looking for in our program,” Pitino said, per the team’s official website. “He has experience playing in an up-tempo, pressing style similar to ours and is long and athletic.”
Hurt, listed as a guard and forward by the Gophers, is also rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN.com.
The forward averaged 20.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season, all team highs, for John Marshall high school.
“He can shoot and has excellent length and athleticism, along with a great work ethic and feel for the game,” Pitino said, per the team’s official website.
