FanPost

Trevor Mbakwe leaves Marquette

Former Henry Sibley PF, Trevor Mbakwe was recruited by Dan Monson's staff but ultimately committed to Tom Crean and Marquette.  When Crean left Marquette for the Indiana job the rumors began to fly that Mbakwe would jump ship and transfer to be a part of the new Tubby Smith regime.  At the time Mbakwe was quick to squash these rumors telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS)...

"I've been reading the papers and they're saying all this stuff about me transferring for family reasons before Coach even left," Mbakwe said at the time. "I just want to let everyone know that isn't true. It was news to me. It was a shock. I didn't know where it was coming from, and that's never been an idea in my head."

Well, the 6'7", 240 lb power forward was scheduled to begin classes this morning but threw a curveball to the Golden Eagle staff when he told them he was quitting the team.  This was a shock to the staff as Mbakwe participated in the team's offseason workouts and according to the MJS gave no inclination that he was wavering on his commitment. 

So the question now arises, what does this mean for the Gophers who are actively trying to sign a PF in the 2009 recruiting class.  Currently we have offered a scholarship to Osseo's finest, Sam Dower and Columbus, GA native Torrin Walker. Both three star forwards are seriously considering Minnesota, but one would assume that the Gophers would rescind that offer were Mbakwe transfer to here.

Assuming Tubby Smith would take Mbakwe that would take a lot of pressure off the interior recruiting efforts and give us a solid, albeit young, interior for the 2009-2010 season.

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