Maple Grove senior center Jack Thelen made his college choice official Wednesday, signing with UConn and giving the Huskies one of the top prospects in Minnesota’s Class of 2027.
Thelen, a 7-foot-1, 240-pound four-star recruit, had been committed to Wisconsin over the summer before backing off that pledge and reopening his recruitment. Illinois and UConn both entered the mix after the decommitment, and Thelen took official visits to both schools before landing on the Huskies.
“I would say it’s their pedigree and what they have done with their bigs in the past, I see myself in a few of those guys,” Thelen told 247sports.com. “They brought up Donovan Clingan and even Eric Reibe a little bit even though he’s not there.”
247sports described Thelen as “a big bodied lefty with real size and a quality motor.” In its evaluation, the outlet pointed to his 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds on 57% shooting from the floor in 3SSB play, while noting his competitive edge, defensive voice, and willingness to use his body in the lane.
The scouting report also highlighted that he “has good hands, soft touch in the paint, both hands around the rim (albeit with a lower release point), is physical in the post, and reliable reversing the ball on the perimeter.” It added that his 82% free-throw shooting is encouraging, even on very low volume.
Thelen had been set to go to Wisconsin with his senior guard teammate, Baboucarr Ann, who signed with the Badgers on Wednesday as well. Ann is the top prospect in Minnesota, while Thelen ranks No. 2 in the state.
Minnesota’s top 2026 recruits stayed home, with the Golden Gophers signing two of the top three players in that class. But the Gophers will not land the top Minnesota names in 2027.
Thelen and Ann are leaving the state, and No. 3 recruit Ty Schlagel of Cretin-Derham Hall is committed to Nebraska. Schlagel is a 3-star small forward prospect.
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Gophers Land A Recruit Who Signals Bigger Plans Ahead
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Medveds staff clearly sees more than just another name on the board here. Santos arrives with a blend of high school and international experience that suggests Minnesota is aiming higher in how it builds its roster, not just for one season but for the next wave of talent coming through the program. The signing itself is a meaningful step, and it also hints at how much bigger the Gophers believe this recruiting run can get. [Read more 🡒]