Gophers, Badgers and Cyclones in hot pursuit of Maple Grove’s Babou Ann

The Gophers men’s basketball program this month gave a strong indication of what Babou Ann would mean to the U’s 2027 recruiting class. Head coach Niko Medved and most of his assistants were in attendance when Ann and Maple Grove knocked off Wayzata in a matchup of top Class 4A teams on Feb. 6. They weren’t alone in their conspicuous support inside Wayzata’s packed gym that Friday night; Iowa State assistant Kyle Green was also spotted in the bleachers. That’s how popular Ann has become this winter. The four-star prospect has scholarship offers from the Gophers, Cyclones and Wisconsin Badgers among some other high-major programs. “Those are the big three...