Published Jun 9, 2020
SIZZLE'S SLIM REAP3R CHET HOLMGREN MAKES MINNESOTA HISTORY!
Michael Binns
Recruiting Analyst

Jalen Green founded Unicorn Family and climbed to new heights alongside fellow Unicorn Family member and CEO Jalen Suggs. The movement created by both 3x USA Gold Medalists have grown to include class 2021 newest ESPN ranked number one player in the country Chet "Slim Reap3r" Holmgren.

Chet Holmgren has gone from a relatively unknown that many poked fun of after being posterized in the Minnesota boys state basketball tournament. His face was on everyone's social media page because the play made ESPN Sportscenter play of the day. What everyone didn't see was an eighth-grader beginning to blossom. By the way, they went on to win the State Championship with Holmgren being one of the deciding factors.

Now Holmgren's meteoric rise to the top of the high school basketball mecca has made him a household name, especially in Minnesota. Holmgren was just recently crowned America's top high school basketball player by Paul Biancardi and ESPN. The 7-foot phenom has taken the world by storm especially after performing extremely well in elite camps, like Nike 100, NBPA, and most notably Steph Curry where again he went viral. This time he would be celebrated making ESPN Sportscenter's' top play of the day by beating Curry to the hoop with his own signature move.

Chet Holmgren is the first Minnesota player to ever hold the prestigious number one ranking. That is quite an honor considering the great basketball players Minnesota has produced over the years. We caught up with Holmgren to discuss the honor.

"I think it is definitely cool to be on top of the list. Its an honor and would be to anybody. However, it is just a list and doesn't mean I made it. I know there is much more work to do."

Chet went on to praise those that set the path towards being considered number one and remembers what his coach and mentor Larry Suggs said in the beginning. "With work you going to the league!" Suggs was convinced Chet Holmgren was going to be a pro. He just had to change the philosophy and expectation of tall athletes only playing in the paint. Coach Suggs made it a point to develop Chet Holmgren into a guard which at times frustrated him.

It didn't take long for Holmgren to adapt as evidenced by his spectacular play last summer that saw him rise from the rank of #42 to #4 to eventually the number one position.

"It wasn't my end goal to climb a list. My goal was to get better without worrying about rankings and what other people thought. I just wanted to get better. I want to be the best basketball player I can be."