Joe Coleman commits to Gophers Friday, Andre Hollins on campus

Gophers coach Tubby Smith locked up his first verbal commitment from the 2011 recruiting class Friday.

Hopkins star Joe Coleman, a 6-3 guard/forward, verbally commited to the Gophers Friday afternoon. "I'm a Gopher," he told the Star Tribune via text message.

Hopkins coach Ken Novak said Coleman may have a better career than his brother Dan, who played for the Gophers from 2004 to 2008.

Tennessee prep star Andre Hollins, a 6-2 shooting guard, toured the Minnesota campus with his family Friday morning, according to a source close to the program.

Hollins, the 126th-ranked recruit in the 2011 class via Rivals.com, has offers from Auburn, Harvard, Minnesota, Mississippi and Stanford.

The Gophers hosted a pair of 2011 recruits last weekend. Iowa prep Josh Oglesby (No. 118 via Rivals.com), a 6-5 shooting guard, and New Hampshire point guard Naadir Tharpe (No. 91 recruit on Rivals.com) attended the Minnesota-Southern California football game Saturday.

Oglesby is scheduled to visit Arizona State this weekend. Tharpe isn't expected to choose a college until the spring.

Coleman (No. 80 on ESPNU100, No. 116 on Rivals150 and No. 29 small forward on Scout.com), who led Hopkins to its second consecutive 4A state title in March, is one of the top players, if not the No. 1 player, in the state's senior class. He took an official visit to Minnesota earlier this month.

I watched Coleman play in a high school tournament near St. Cloud a few months ago and he looked like a Division I athlete. He has the physique and athleticism to play at the next level.

The 6-3 standout is a solid shooter and he's crafty enough to score in traffic.

This is not the same player I saw a year ago. Coleman has really improved in every aspect of his game.

He'll enter his freshman year in 2011-12 with the right tools to contribute early.

Joe Coleman (Hopkins)

Josh Oglesby (Washington in Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

Naadir Tharpe (Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.)