University of Minnesota Athletics
Three Future Gophers Sign NLIs
11/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Ben Frazzini (Medina, Minn./Wayzata HS), Evan Long (New Castle, Pa./Laurel HS) and Reece Sanders (Deephaven, Minn./The Blake School) have signed National Letters of Intent to play golf for the University of Minnesota. They will join head coach John Carlson, assistant coach Justin Smith and the Golden Gophers starting in the 2017-18 season.
Frazzini helped Wayzata win the 2015 Minnesota Class AAA state championship, tying for 10th individually with rounds of 75 and 76. Frazzini has also tied for 17th twice at State, as a freshman and a junior. The 2016 Lake Conference runner-up was named to the all-conference team for the second consecutive year. Amateur golf highlights for Frazzini include finishing fourth at the 2015 Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship, winning the FCWT junior tournament at Arizona State and placing ninth at the AJGA Target Challenge.
"Ben's leadership, work ethic and passion have propelled him in guiding one of the strongest high school golf programs, Wayzata, to many team championships," Carlson said. "His pride to play for our only Division I golf school in Minnesota is at an all-time high for athletes we have recruited. Having won on the national junior stage already, Ben has shown prodigious length off the tee to go along with a solid short game, which are hallmarks of the top players in the college golf."
Long recently finished third at the Pennsylvania Class AA state championship with scores of 74 and 75. He won the PIAA Western Regional to advance to State. Long was fourth in 2015 and tied for sixth in 2014 at the PIAA state tournament, earning all-state honors both times. He is a perennial all-conference honoree who led his team to multiple conference and section championships. Long picked up wins at the Pittsburgh Junior Challenge and Cleveland Junior Challenge this spring, adding three top-10 finishes in AJGA events over the summer: fourth at the Philadelphia Junior, fifth at the Bluegrass Junior and tied for eighth at the Memorial Junior.
"Signing another top player from the state of Pennsylvania reaffirms our commitment to recruit within the footprint of Big Ten country," Carlson said. "Evan possesses the skills of an accomplished collegiate player already. He drives the ball statistically at a very high level and has played some of the most consistent golf of any junior in the country over the last 12 months. His impact will be immediate within our program and conference."
Sanders won the 2015 Class AA state championship by four strokes with rounds of 67 and 71. His efforts led Blake to a share of the team title. He tied for 18th as a junior in 2016, helping the Bears repeat as team champions. Sanders helped Blake win back-to-back Independent Metro Athletic Conference titles in 2015 and 2016, leading the team to its first with a 73. Sanders earned All-Tri Metro honors as a freshman before Blake moved to its new conference. He tied for sixth at the 2015 MGA State Junior Boys' Championship.
"Reece ranks highly with the most talented junior golfers in the history of Minnesota high school golf," Carlson said. "He has complete control of his trajectory while having comparable balls speeds to the longest college players. When Reece won the State High School Championship in Class AA as a sophomore, he solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the Midwest. His leadership in the classroom and with his teammates at Blake High School has not gone unnoticed and will be integral in his transition to Division I collegiate golf."
