Tubby Smith locked up the first commit of his 2012 class when Wally Ellenson, a 6-5 wing from Rice Lake, Wis., committed to the Gophers Monday.
Ellenson, a three-star prospect on Rivals.com, took an unofficial visit to the school over the weekend. He said he was impressed when Smith's entire staff joined him and his family on the trip around campus.
"It was just really great for his whole staff to be with us," Ellenson said. "It showed they really cared."
Ellenson said he likes to shoot, but he's also comfortable as a slasher, as seen in the highlights above.
"I'm a shooting guard. I can hit threes. But I also like to drive," he said. "I like to dunk."
Ellenson was scheduled to take visits to West Virginia and Nebraska before he made the decision to join the Gophers.
He said he's excited to compete for Smith starting with the 2012-13 campaign. He'll also have a chance to play close to home. He also has family in the Twin Cities, he said.
Ellenson said he expects to grow under Smith.
