Recruiting Report: Giorgi Bezhanishvili (2018)

Coaches across the country spent the weekend at the Primetime Shootout in East Orange, New Jersey. While there reports surfaced of Minnesota offering 6-foot-9, 230 pound Giorgi Bezhanishvili, his first high major offer. Bezhanishvili is a senior at The Patrick School in New Jersey which is the same program where current Gophers Dupree McBrayer and Jamir Harris played. Bezhanishvili is originally from the Republic of Georgia and has been a few places before landing with the New York Jayhawks AAU basketball club as well as The Patrick School. Jay David, the Executive Director of the NY Jayhawk, spoke with Prep Hoops last night and described Giorgi's ability as a player. "He's a very strong, skilled lefty power forward with a high IQ," David said. "Giorgi is smart and very good at reading a defense once he screens." Bezhanishvili and his teammates knocked off the number seven ranked St. Benedict's Prep squad 59-54 on Saturday with Bezhanishvili scoring ten points which was second behind Alejandro Vasquez. In the second game The Patrick School defeated Camden 75-52 led by 22 from senior Markquis Nowell, 19 from Al-Amir Dawes, and Bezhanishvili had eight. On a team that is full of future D1 players Giorgi was one of the team's most consistent players. Several reports popped up from the event that Minnesota offered sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Coach Pitino was at the event with assistant Ed Conroy on Saturday and staff remained in attendance on Sunday. "(Giorgi’s) excited about the opportunity," Davis said. "He’s an extremely humble young man and pushing forward. His consistent play and versatility as of late have helped him get offers." Bezhanishvili was offered by St. Bonaventure, Manhattan, and Hofstra after his summer of play with the NY Jayhawks. David mentioned that Seton Hall and Pitt are also looking strongly at Bezhanishvili. As far as a timetable there is noting clear at this time. Bezhanishvili has no visits set and is just focused on the rest of the season. This weekend wasn't the first time the Gophers have seen Bezhanishvili play. They were previously after Nowell - currently a senior at the school - and the Gophers have offered Bezhanishvili's teammates Al-Amir Dawes (a 2019 guard) and 2020 small forward CJ Wilcher. With so much time in their gym watching the various players on The Patrick School roster the Gophers have consistently watched Bezhanishvili grow as a player. Bezhanishvili is the fourth leading scorer at The Patrick School scoring about 8.4 points per game after this weekend. Vladir Manuel is the scoring leader at 14.5 a contest (Manuel is a top 200 ranked power forward with several high major offers) followed by the 13 a game from Dawes (ranked 163rd in the 2019 class) and the dozen a game from Vasquez.