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Zags go the extra mile for Dower

Osseo power forward Sam Dower had four schools remaining on his list and he chose to visit Gonzaga first. After the Gonzaga program and its fans went all out this weekend the 6-foot-9 top 150 recruit decided that Spokane, Washington was the best place for his future and he made his decision while on the visit.
Osseo coach Tim Thiesen has helped carry on a budding tradition of Osseo basketball and Sam Dower is this year's star of the program. Thiesen assisted Dower throughout the recruiting process and was excited about Dower's recent decision.
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"I talked to Sam this morning and the main thing he said was that he felt really, really comfortable with the coaches and the players," said coach Thiesen. "On the visit they had some kid (Mangisto Arop) that committed early as well. He is a kid from Canada and Sam hit it off well with him.
"When he was there this weekend Gonzaga pulled out the red carpet treatment for him. Sam just felt at home. It seemed to him like everybody from the parents to the coaches and even the students or fans from the student section where really aware of Sam coming this weekend. And they all really made the visit a first class experience for him."
With Marquette, Minnesota, George Mason, California, and Gonzaga on the final list Sam was getting much pressure from media, coaches, fans, and much else to do this or that. With this decision made Sam can now focus on his senior year.
"Sam has just taken a lot of pressure off his shoulders," Thiesen explained. "With any high profile recruit the player is constantly bombarded with text messages, phone calls to both the parents and Sam himself, and Sam is glad that he made the decision."
While at Gonzaga Sam had his support system consulting with him about the weekend visit.
"His parents went with him this weekend," Thiesen stated. "They were very impressed with everything. From the field house to the practice facility to the coaches. All around the parents loved it and Sam really enjoyed it. He just feels a lot of weight off his shoulders."
Over the next two weeks schools had planned to trip to Osseo to visit with Dower about their schools but the next step for Sam will be calling them and letting them know that he is a committed Bulldog.
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