Recruiting Report: Connor Christensen (2020)

<p><span id="more-799850"></span>Eden Prairie wing Connor Christensen is one of the elite defenders in Minnesota.  This weekend at the Fantastic 40 he's defending and knocking out threes with the best. </p> <p>D1 Minnesota is finishing up their year in Las Vegas this weekend and so far they are 3-0 headed into tonight's first bracket game.  Connor knocked out a pair of threes in a win over Expressions Elite and then hit four of them in a victory over BTI.  And each three made was followed by a sprint back the other way and a defensive stance quickly given with the mouth open providing verbal support and direction. </p> <p>"Obviously we had a great spring," Connor said about his team that enters today at 32-4. "We had a few lumps this summer with Dawson being out but we are coming into this event really excited ready to win the whole thing and end this three year run on a good note.  With recruiting picking up and me looking to make a fall decision, it's just a great time in hoops right now."</p> [caption id="attachment_635649" align="alignright" width="300"] Connor Christensen[/caption] <p>D1 Minnesota entered the Fantastic 40 ranked 10th in the nation looking to make a move up the rankings with an event championship.</p> <p>"My role for this team is to do something a little bit different every game," Connor explained.  "Sometimes my role is to make a big shot, sometimes my role is to defend the number one player in the country, and this is a role that I embrace.  That's why I like this team so much because every game I get to do something different.  It pushes me as a player." </p> <p>Connor has spent his life receiving the top assignment in high school and in 17u play on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit. Connor's value isn't just on the ball, what he does off the ball as a communicator is equally as important. </p> <p>"I learned how to talk defensively from my youth coaches," Christensen stated. "When talking I feel like I see the court better and I want to help out my teammates at all times.  It helps make them better players, it helps them see the floor better. There is also a want, and a grit that comes with it.  That's what I bring to the team. And I'm happy to be the guy for that."</p> <p>Eden Prairie brings back more talent from a state team than anybody else at the Class AAAA level.  They bring back more of their line-up than any Class AAAA roster (only one player graduated from last year's team).  This gives them the best combination of talent and experience in Class AAAA basketball giving them the preseason #1 spot. </p> <p>"It will be a lot of pressure but we have learned from our mistakes last year," Connor said.  "We had a great season and we are bringing everybody back so we are ready to make a great impression on the state.  Our hope is to bring Eden Prairie a state title in basketball."</p> <p>Connor has earned scholarship offers from Air Force, Brown, and Wright State, Several other programs are in contact with Christensen as well. </p> <p>"It feels good to have the opportunities I have," Connor said.  "Recruiting has obviously picked up the last couple months. The Academy went great as I have been hearing from a lot more schools.  Hearing from the Ivy League is big for me as I have set up a visit to Brown in a few weeks.  That will be in mid-August.  Hopefully when I get home from Vegas I will set up a few more visits.</p> <p>"Obviously Wright State offered last week and I have been hearing from about six to eight other schools."</p> <p>Who are those schools?</p> <p>"Purdue-Fort Wayne has been on me hard, Cornell, I'm hearing from Dartmouth so I hope to set up a visit there, Northern Iowa has been calling my coach," Connor said.  "Western Carolina has also been calling.  A bunch of schools that came out to the Basketball Academy said they were interested and they contacted my coaches so it's good to see things pick up. I'm exited for that next chapter."</p> <p>Connor has two more days of his career with D1 Minnesota, then he has recruiting, followed by his senior year at Eden Prairie.  Once he gets to college what is Connor looking at studying?</p> <p>"I'm really looking forward to setting myself up for after basketball.  I want to look at something in business and these guys are my brothers (the D1 Minnesota team) so I want to look to help them out someday.  I would love to look at something that ties basketball into it because I love the sport so much. That's my plan right now just look at getting an education and moving towards the next step."</p>