Recruit Profile: Graham Woodward

With the 2012 season upon us (yesterday was the first day of basketball practice for the Zags), the coaches are making a last minute push to secure a point guard recruit for the 2013 season: Graham Woodward.  Woodward hails from Edina, Minnesota, and his recruiting really heated up following the July evaluation period this summer.  He currently has over 15 scholarship offers, but Penn State, Drake, WSU, and Gonzaga are leading the pack at this point.  He has already taken official visits to the first three schools mentioned above, and will be taking his Official Visit to Gonzaga during Kraziness in the Kennel next weekend.  

Stats:

Height: 6’0

Weight: 165 lbs.

Position: Point Guard

Year: 2013

High School: Edina High School

AAU: Minnesota Pump N’ Run

Official Visits:

Washington State University – Took Official Visit on September 8

Drake – Took Official Visit on September 19

Penn State – Took Official Visit on September 29

Gonzaga – Offered on September 16, expected to visit during Kraziness in the Kennel

Rankings:

Rivals – 3 Stars

Scout Grade – 58 (1 Star)

ESPN 2013 Top 100 – 7^th overall in State of Minnesota

ESPN 2013 Top Point Guards – 164th

Accolades:

Twin Cities All Metro – 2^nd Team

All State, Honorable Mention

Leading Scorer Lake Conference (20.2 ppg)

Lake All Conference (Sophomore & Junior Year)

Team Captain (Junior & Senior Year)

How his Coach describes his game:

Graham Woodward is currently coached by Edina High School’s head coach Patrick Dorsey.  Dorsey believes Woodward’s best asset is his Basketball IQ:

“He’s got a lot of options in his game, but his best quality as a player is his decision-making,” said Dorsey. “He knows when it’s a right time to speed up the game and also if the team needs a longer set he understands that as well...I ask him to do a lot, from running our offense, to playing over thirty minutes a game, to guarding the other team’s best guard - Graham embraces his role and he excels while doing it.”

Penn State Official Visit

In an interview following his visit to Penn State, Graham Woodward spoke to the excitement of getting a chance to play Big Ten Basketball, and his possible role he would have on the Penn State squad:

 “They were telling me I will have a great chance to play, they’re very excited about my game, and Coach Chambers believes in me, which is obviously very important to me…Growing up in Big Ten country - my parents grew up in Indiana and both went to IU - I’ve watched a ton of Big Ten basketball, so playing in the conference will definitely be a factor in my decision.”

The Low Down

Graham Woodward is known for having quick speed, and outstanding shooting ability.  He is smart on and off the court (his GPA garnering him attention from IVY league schools).  He is known for being competitive, tough, and fearless in his play, and on top of all that, he seems to have a positive attitude and leadership qualities.

Graham Woodward would be a great addition to the Gonzaga basketball team.  He has the qualities to be the next in line of great GU Point Guard’s (though he is on the small side), but Gonzaga has a lot to overcome to gain his commitment, and I believe Penn State is the biggest obstacle.  At Penn State, Woodward has a chance to play immediately, whereas at Gonzaga he would be behind Pangos for an additional two years before he could really take the stage.  Penn State also plays in a power conference, unlike the WCC.  We will have to wait and see if the atmosphere of Kraziness in the Kennel can sway Woodward to commit to GU.