Amir Coffey Verbally Commits to Gophers

HOPKINS, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota has a verbal commitment from a Twin Cities player who's one of the country's top recruits, swingman Amir Coffey.

Coffey said Monday he has picked the Gophers over several Big Ten and national competitors. He held a news conference at Hopkins High School, the powerhouse program in suburban Minneapolis, to announce his decision.

The 6-foot-7 Coffey can play shooting guard or small forward. He tore the ACL in his left knee last winter, cutting short his junior year. Coffey had offers from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin, among others. Coffey is currently ranked 33rd in the country in the class of 2016 by ESPN.com, 41st by Scout.com and 54th by Rivals.com.

Coffey is the son of Richard Coffey, a starter for Minnesota in the 1980s under coach Clem Haskins.