Gophers to visit Rico Tucker and Wesley Washington

Gopher men's assistant coach Bill Walker met with recent commitment Rico Tucker today and will visit Wesley Washington tomorrow.

Rico Tucker of San Diego (CA) University committed to Minnesota after visiting the campus this weekend and receiving a home visit from the Gopher coaches earlier last week. Tucker was the Gophers’ top recruiting target. He is an athletic guard who can play both backcourt positions. He had a strong summer playing for the Pump N Run AAU team and participated in the Nike All-American Camp. Tucker is one of the top defensive guards in the country.

Wesley Washington of Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei, who signed with Minnesota, was denied admission. He was named second-team Best of the West by the Long Beach Press Telegram. Washington led Mater Dei to a 35-2 mark and finished the year ranked #3 by College Basketball News. Gopher fans are hoping that Washington might return for Minnesota's second semester rather than decide to enroll at another school.

Washington averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game on a balanced team that has seven Division I-caliber recruits. The Monarchs defeated Roseville Woodcreek 70-49 to win the California Division II state title as Washington had 12 points. He was named the California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year as a junior and a senior and the Orange County Register Player of the Year as a senior.