Not many high school basketball players can say they went toe-to-toe with Steph Curry.
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Chet Holmgren can, and he can say he bested the two-time NBA MVP, too.
Holmgren is a 7-foot, 190-pound center out of Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A few years ago, he was barely on the radar. Now, he's the consensus No. 1 player in the 2021 recruiting class, according to ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals.
He climbed to a top-five prospect in the summer of 2019 as a member of the Grassroots Sizzle on the AAU circuit. He toured his one-of-a-kind game across the country to ascend amongst the best players in his class. Rightfully so.
The 7-footer has a perpetual motor that impacts the game on both ends of the floor.
Chet Holmgren Highlights
Chet Holmgren has the ball-handling skills of a point guard for someone of his stature. He keeps his dribble below the knees and maintains control in the open court and on the drive.
His jump shot is silky. The five-star recruit possesses nifty athleticism and can hit consistently from downtown. He knocks it down as well spotting up as he does off the dribble.
Holmgren has a solid post game built around crafty moves and dunks. He uses his length to finish above the rim.
Speaking of length, Holmgren has plenty. His 7-foot-6 wingspan makes him a valuable rim protector who feasts on opponents' shots. The gangly big man is a vacuum for rebounds. The only real knock is his strength, which will come in time, and his slender frame.
You can count on Holmgren giving his all when he steps on the court. He welcomes competition and relishes in outshining them. He won three-straight state championships at Minnehaha alongside Gonzaga guard and projected NBA lottery pick Jalen Suggs.
Holmgren's Team Sizzle faced off against top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates' Ypsi Prep Academy in November 2020. Holmgren collected 31, points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks in a 78-71 victory.
Chet Holmgren Recruiting
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Per an Instagram post in June 2020, Chet Holmgren has narrowed his list down to seven finalists.
He's between the Ohio State Buckeyes, North Carolina Tar Heels, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Michigan Wolverines, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Georgetown Hoyas, and Memphis Tigers.
He took an official visit to Gonzaga on October 4, 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it tougher for his basketball recruiting process, but it appears he's slowly honing in on a decision.
He was also considering Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Duke, Kentucky, Baylor, and Texas A&M, among others, before cutting his list.
The Minnehaha product's path leads to the NBA Draft, where he's at the top of draft boards. If his basketball career doesn't work out for some reason, he can always pursue journalism. Chet Holmgren is a dynamite name for the evening news. No matter what team he chooses, he'll be sure to not only boost the school in the recruiting rankings but also in the NCAA Tournament.
247Sports' Crystal Ball and team of recruiting analysts predict Holmgren will play college basketball for head coach Mark Few and the Zags. He could team up with fellow 2021 five-star basketball recruit Hunter Sallis, who is also projected to head to Spokane.
There have been some talks of Holmgren skipping college altogether and heading to the G-League. He put those rumors to rest:
"I'm definitely looking to go to college next year," Holmgren said. "And I got it down to seven schools right now: Minnesota, Michigan, Memphis, Georgetown, North Carolina, Ohio State and Gonzaga. So I'm looking at those right now, trying to figure it out."
No matter where he plays, Chet Holmgren is going to be a star.
Chet Holmgren Commits to Gonzaga
Breaking: @ChetHolmgren, the No. 1 overall recruit in ESPN's 2021 rankings, has committed to @ZagMBB 👏 pic.twitter.com/PCyWmkgOyg
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 19, 2021
UPDATE (April 19, 2021): 2021 top recruit Chet Holmgren announced his commitment to Gonzaga on ESPN's Sportscenter. The 2021 Naismith Prep Player of the Year, who took home four state titles in his high school career, joins five-star guard Hunter Sallis to round out the Bulldogs' recruiting class.
Whether you're Florida State, Illinois, LSU, UNC, or Arizona, the team to beat remains the squad from Spokane, Washington.
This post was originally published on March 11, 2020, but has been updated to follow Holmgren's recruiting.
