Tag: Morgan Wootten

Chet Holmgren named 2021 Morgan Wootten Boys HS Basketball Player of the Year

The top-ranked recruit in the class of 2021 has been named this year’s Morgan Wootten Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Chet Holmgren, the top recruit in the class of 2021, has been named the 2021 Morgan Wootten Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year by McDonald’s.

Holmgren is averaging 20.6 points, 12.6 rebounds. 5.2 blocks and 4.5 assists per game for Minnehaha Academy and has scored in double figures every game so far this season. With Holmgren leading the way, Minnehaha Academy currently sits at 20-2 on the year and still in the running for a state title after defeating Byron High School in the Minnesota AAA quarterfinals Wednesday night.

Holmgren recently narrowed down his recruitment to a list of finalists consisting of Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio State. Gonzaga is currently viewed as the favorite to land Holmgren, as his 247Sports Crystal Ball reads 100% in favor of the Bulldogs. Adding to Gonzaga’s appeal is the recent commitment of fellow 2021 five-star recruit Hunter Sallis and the Bulldogs’ run to the Final Four.

“It is great to see the fans (on social media) trying to lead me to their school,” Holmgren said. “I am not letting it play too much into my decision because at the end of the day I have to find what is best for me and my future. Wherever I end up going, I am sure their fans will be the happiest for me.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

The Morgan Wootten Award is named after the legendary DeMatha Catholic (Md.) coach, who went 1274-192 and won multiple national championships in his storied career. Previous winners of the Wooten Award include LeBron James, Kevin Love, Ben Simmons, Lonzo Ball, RJ Barrett and James Wiseman. USC star center Evan Mobley won the 2020 Wootten Award.

While the 2021 Class of All Americans won’t take the court this year, you can see Holmgren be honored during the McDonald’s All American Games hour-long Special on ABC on Saturday, April 3 at 2 p.m. ET.

Hall of Fame high school basketball coach Morgan Wootten dies at age 88

Morgan Wootten became the first person who exclusively coached high school basketball to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2000. The legendary DeMatha High School coach died Tuesday at the age of 88, according to the school.

Morgan Wootten became the first person who exclusively coached high school basketball to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2000. The legendary DeMatha High School coach died Tuesday at the age of 88, according to the school.

Wootten coached from 1956-2002 at the high school in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. He turned down opportunities to coach at Duke, Virginia, NC State and Wake Forest universities to continue leading the high school program.

Wootten’s coaching techniques made his program one of the first high school teams to begin taking on powerhouses outside of the state. He employed full-court pressure defenses in a way that led to the offensive foul.

In 1984, DeMatha finished 29-2 and USA Today named Wootten its Coach of the Year and the team national champions.

But in 1985, Wootten’s team took down Power Memorial Academy of New York, ending a 71-game win streak and limiting and stand-out center who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabar.

Wootten coached 13 players at DeMatha who went on to have NBA careers.

Hall of Fame high school basketball coach Morgan Wootten dies at age 88

Morgan Wootten became the first person who exclusively coached high school basketball to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2000. The legendary DeMatha High School coach died Tuesday at the age of 88, according to the school.

Morgan Wootten became the first person who exclusively coached high school basketball to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2000. The legendary DeMatha High School coach died Tuesday at the age of 88, according to the school.