BREAKING: Elliott Eliason commits to the Gophers

According to Rivals.com, 6-11 center Elliott Eliason out of Nebraska has verbally comitted to Tubby and the U for the 2010-2011 season.  It had essentially come down to home-town Creighton, snooty Stanford, or the U for his services.  It couldn't have hurt that he was allegedly in attendance for the opening of TCF stadium, assuming, that is, he didn't want any food.

Academics were a big factor in his decision, as well as the Big Ten conference, some relatives in Minnesota, and what sounds like an excellent job by Blake Hoffarber showing Eliason around, and for some odd reason they brought him to a Twins game as well, which luckily didn't turn him off. 

He doesn't crack the Rivals Top 150, and only rates three stars, but he's been improving according to reports and is starting to get on some more radar screens.  Other teams after him were Washington State, Colorado State, and Nebraska.

From the reports I have read, even though he was the Nebraska Player of the Year last season, he is not exactly an offensive weapon, but is a good rebounder and defender, and excellent passer with a good head for the game (3.75 GPA and 27 ACT speak to his intelligence) and is becoming comfortable in the high post.

I am not overly impressed with this signing, but I am intrigued.  A good, 7-foot center who can not only score but also pass well out of the high post is a rarity, and I'm always interested in smart players since I get really tired of watching athletic idiots run around at times.  Overall, I still have complete faith in Tubby Smith, so I'm sure this kid will be a nice surprise.