By JACOB POLACHECK
Gus Yalden is becoming a name to know in the Class of 2023.
Yalden, the 6-foot-10 power forward from IMG Academy (FL), has recently picked up offers from Stanford (Aug. 18) and Howard (Aug. 22).
He broke down both schools for ZAGSBLOG by phone Tuesday evening.
Howard: “I learned a lot from their presentation that they gave me. I can’t speak highly enough about it because it was awesome. I know that they’re definitely trying to change the game. I’m really excited to see where it goes and how it happens. Howard is a great school. I really love the staff. I really like coach [Kenny] Blakeney and I think it’s great program on top of a great school. They’ve done a lot to prepare for the next couple of years. I think they’re going to have a really successful year this year. They’re going to be a high-level program in a couple of years.”
Stanford: “Stanford is a great program. I really really like coach [Jerod] Haase and coach [Tom] Orlich. I had a great couple of talks before they offered. I had some great zooms. They showed me a lot of their facilities. They showed great videos, talked about their values, the campus, their players. They showed me some of the stuff their past big men have done. It was a great, great couple of months getting to know them. I’m really excited to continue building the relationship with them.”
Yalden says that in addition to Howard and Stanford, he is also being prioritized by Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Rutgers and Louisville.
He broke down each school:
Wisconsin: “I’ve been talking coach [Joe] Krabbenhoft a lot and coach [Greg] Gard. I really like Wisconsin. I grew up in Wisconsin. I was a fan as a kid and they were my favorite team growing up. It’s a great program in a great town in my favorite state in the country. I think I’m going to really continue building a great relationship with them. They really like the way that I could fit in with them and play in their system.”
Iowa: “Iowa is great. I really like talking to coach [Fran] McCaffery. He’s a really cool guy. What he’s been able to do with Luka Garza is amazing. It intrigues me what they could do with me and potentially turn me into that kind of player.”
Nebraska: “I really like coach [Fred] Hoidberg. He’s a great coach. Whenever I talk with him it’s always a great conversation. I love talking to him. When I get to talk to him it’s always fun. He’s had a great career in basketball and I’m really excited to continue building a relationship with him.”
Rutgers: “I really like coach [Steve] Hayn and coach [Steve] Pikiell. I’ve been talking to coach Hayn for months. I started talking to him back in February of this year. He’s a really, really cool guy. He grew up with my dad way back. Coach Pikiell is a great guy. Rutgers is a really cool school. They’re an up and coming program that had a great year this year. They’re set to have another great one this next year.”
Louisville: “I talked to coach [Kahlil] Fennell and I’ve done a zoom call with coach Fennell and coach [Chris] Mack. I think that was a great zoom. They showed me all the great stuff they had to offer. Louisville is obviously a great school and right at the top of being considered one of the best schools in the country for basketball. They have a great arena, great fan base, great rivalries and are in one of the best conferences. I’m excited to continue building a relationship there.”
Despite being nearly a year away from coaches being able to reach out directly, Yalden says he’s looking at a number of factors when evaluating his options.
“Not only are they a good basketball school, but are they a good fit for me? How is the education there? What happens with their players after they’re done playing? What is their success rate with their players in terms of getting them to the NBA or getting them overseas? Are the winning or not? And just how they play.”
This summer, Yalden announced his transfer from The Asheville (NC) School to IMG Academy.
“I had been talking to them for a couple of months before I decided to go there,” he said. “The facilities and the staff there are excellent. It’s what I need to do to get myself to the next step because I want to be the best player I can and be a pro athlete. They’ve produced some great guys. I’m really excited to get down there and get to work.”
Moving forward, Yalden says he plans on continuing to build relationships with college coaches.
“I’ll see where I’m at next spring and continue talking to them,” he said. “It will be easier next June when they’re allowed to start contacting me. Right now, it’s just about building relationships from the ground floor.”
In terms of his game, Yalden describes himself as a “multi-dimensional big”.
“I’m a new kind of hybrid center,” he said. “Just like the NBA is trying to turn to, away from the simple big man type of guy.”
Off the court, Yalden says he enjoys fishing, playing golf, going on hikes and spending time with his family.
“I just like to enjoy my time as a kid,” he said.
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