Former Gophers basketball coach Clem Haskins, players still feel a close bond

Eric Harris was the point guard who helped lead Clem Haskins' Gophers to the Final Four in 1997, but he lost touch with his former coach in the decades since his playing days.

All the old memories came back when Harris, along with about 20 of Haskins' former players and assistants, saw their coach Wednesday night during a gathering at J.D. Hoyt's in Minneapolis. Harris and Quincy Lewis were members of the vacated '97 Final Four team to meet with Haskins. Other former players catching up included Jim Shikenjanski, Richard Coffey, Arriel McDonald and Randy Carter.

"It was a cool time," Harris said. "I hadn't seen him in years. He was just saying he loves me and I told him I love him back. He saw some of the things I've done. He had some kind words, so did his wife [Yevette]. It was just a good time."

Haskins, who coached the Gophers from 1986-99, last came to the Twin Cities in October 2017 when about 30 of his former players honored him. Earlier that spring was the 20th anniversary of his Final Four team that was wiped from the record books after an academic scandal. Haskins saw six of his 13 Gophers seasons erased, but he still has 111 wins to his credit here, including the 1989 Sweet 16 and 1990 Elite Eight.

Haskins, who lives on his farm in Kentucky, coached for 19 seasons (including six at Western Kentucky before taking over the Gophers), but hasn't picked up the clipboard since resigning at Minnesota in 1999.

Gophers officials have said Haskins would be invited back to campus if they honored any of his non-vacated teams again. Haskins told the Star Tribune two years ago he felt his former school should reach out to him to welcome him back on campus, because "befriending me or making me feel welcomed back is very important, particularly to my players." But he's moved on.

"You have to learn to turn the page," Haskins said two years ago. "Unfortunately, it happened the way it did then, and I was sorry I left that way. But I was ready to move on."

Haskins "taught me a lot," Izzo said, while mentioning Heathcote and Purdue's Gene Keady. "My first Big Ten meeting, it was unbelievable because those three guys kind of, they ruled the roost for the coaches. I was the new guy and sitting in the back of the room, almost like this, hiding. And Clem, for some reason, they were all good friends with Jud, and they all kind of took me under their wing. And what I learned. They were all tough guys, but I swear to you none tougher than Clem Haskins. His teams, those were fistfights."

Richard Pitino and the Gophers were one of the first high majors to show serious interest in Texas center Sam Freeman. And the 6-10 senior at Northwest High announced Thursday on Twitter that he would play for Minnesota next season.

Freeman, a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, was down to the Gophers and Virginia Tech, but Buzz Williams left the Hokies for Texas A&M on Wednesday. Freeman was aware of Williams' departure. Pitino has three scholarships left for the 2019 recruiting class. Wasatch (Utah) Academy four-star guard Tre' Williams is the U's only signed recruit so far.

"Playing in the Big Ten should be a fun experience," Freeman said. "I'm really excited to join the Gophers. I think they've got a really nice program. They can really help me become better and push me every day. I feel like I trust them. It feels like a family."

As a senior this year at Northwest, Freeman averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for a 30-8 5A district championship team. He was picked to all-district and all-region teams. He had 28 rebounds in one game, while also posting a 22-point, 20-rebound, 10-block performance vs. Plano West.