Toward the end of the past season, available seats on the Gophers men's basketball team's bench were adding up.
Wally Ellenson decided to leave the team and eventually transfer, and later on the Gophers announced that Oto Osenieks' knee injury would force him to end his playing career. Add on the one scholarship offer the Gophers chose not to use in the fall recruiting period, and the door had quickly opened this spring for three more fresh faces to join the three fall-period recruits.
Coach Richard Pitino didn't hold back on his bevy of openings last month, ultimately signing three more recruits to fill all six 2014-15 scholarship slots and top off his second Gophers class.
This recruiting process was somewhat unorthodox because of the timing of Pitino's hiring last year — it came about eight months before the fall signing deadline, when the majority of Division I recruits pen their letters of intent. But while the incoming bunch, at least initially, isn't likely to knock the socks off anyone within the context of the talented Big Ten, it certainly addressed some major deficits. All but Illinois State transfer Zach Lofton, who must sit out next season per NCAA rules, could contribute immediately.
The Gophers propped up their frontcourt with a pair of power forwards and a center, who will need to be game-ready come 2015, after Elliott Eliason and Mo Walker have exhausted their eligibility. At the same time, the Gophers infused depth into a thinning backcourt that loses Austin Hollins, Maverick Ahanmisi and Malik Smith from this past season.
The Gophers' biggest class since 2010 should increase competition for major rotation spots and reiterates Pitino's tailored approach to recruiting that he first demonstrated a year ago. Some of the newbies will have to overachieve for this to be considered a truly successful class, but the identity Pitino is seeking is imminently clear in each of the six: versatile, athletic scorers who can run and shoot.
In a few months, we should find out how successful that recipe is in Pitino's second season.
Here's a look at the six newest Gophers:
