High majors tracking Stefan

At the moment Cole Stefan of Minnetonka (Minn.) High School has a bevy of mid-major offers, and the 6-foot-3, 188-pound 2010 shooting guard has some strong high major interest going into the high school season.

Illinois State, Drake, Northern Illinois, Tulsa, Oral Roberts and Wisconsin-Milwaukee have all offered Stefan. As for the high majors, Gonzaga, Marquette, Minnesota, Penn State and Washington State are all showing differing degrees of interest.

According to Stefan's travel team coach Marquis Watts of Net Gain Sports, these schools are interested in seeing what Stefan can do off the dribble in a lead role for his high school team.

"Stefan can flat out score the ball," said Watts. "I think it is sort of going to be a Sam Dower type thing where things develop over time. Stefan is a decent athlete who can play. A lot of the high majors want to see what he does playing the point and how well he handles the ball and executes the pick and roll. They basically want to know what he can do off the dribble."

Stefan caught the eye of these high majors with his strong play during the travel season. The skepticism, however, is there because Stefan had so many talented players around him like Dower and Trent Lockett that he didn't have to extend his game.

Watts did name one high major who thinks is close to pulling the trigger.

"I really think Washington State will offer soon," he said. "Stefan plays just the way you picture a Tony Bennett type player playing."

Stefan will have some talent around him at the guard position despite the loss of a number of quality seniors from last season if Tor Anderson is ruled eligible after transferring to Minnetonka this year.

Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, just received an offer from Montana State.