Amir Coffey to Minnesota

Amir Coffey, the No. 8 shooting guard in the nation according to 247Sports.com, is staying home.

The 6-foot-7 guard from Hopkins (MN) announced that he will play for Minnesota and head coach Richard Pitino, choosing the Gophers over Arizona, Baylor, Texas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State and Indiana.

“I just wanted to pick the best school for me,” Coffey said according to StarTribune.com.

After leading Hopkins to a state title as a sophomore, Coffey tore his left ACL during his junior season, but he returned to play well at the Pacesetter Sweet Sixteen Basketball Championship in St. Cloud in August, averaging more than 25 points in four games, according to reports.

Richard Coffey, the player’s father, was a four-year starter at Minnesota from 1986-90 and then played briefly with the Timberwolves and overseas.

“It’s pretty cool that I’ll be going to the same school that my dad did,” he said.

Written by Adam Zagoria

[email protected]

Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.