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Braeden Carrington had just finished having dinner with the Gophers on his official visit Tuesday night when his mind was made: He wanted to stay home to play college basketball.
The Park Center senior guard broke the news to the Gophers' new coach, Ben Johnson, in a text message.
"He was ecstatic," said Carrington, who eventually posted Wednesday afternoon on Twitter and Instagram he was 110% committed. "Weight off his shoulders for all the reporters and stuff saying he couldn't get someone to stay home. Everybody was happy. It was a good night."
The Gophers were long criticized for missing on Minnesota talent under Richard Pitino, who was fired in March after eight seasons. Johnson, a former Gophers player and assistant, was hired in large part to keep so many players from leaving the state.