Gus Yalden: 2023 four-star talks official visits and who is recruiting hardest

Gus Yalden took the internet by storm last summer. Nicknamed Baby Jokic or Gus Bus, the 6-foot-9 forward displayed an array of ball skills on the open floor that captivated onlookers. The junior averaged 17.4 points and almost 7.0 rebounds a game this season, leading Asheville (NC) School to a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs.

“I’m a versatile big man who can do a lot of things,” Yalden told On3 after his first playoff game. “I can play physical, knock down jump shots, put it on the floor, and get to the rim. A lot of people have compared me to Nikola Jokic and Kevin Love, and I understand that. I would say for me, growing up, my favorite basketball player was Kevin Durant. Every big man’s dream is to play like a guard, so I watched a lot of his games and tried to model what I do after him.”

Yalden played last season at Brandonton (FL) IMG Academy but transferred to Asheville School this season after missing a lot of time with an injury.

“About a year ago, I broke my foot and had two surgeries and was out for eight months,” Yalden said. “Since I came back, I worked hard on my conditioning and dropped a lot of weight. I am developing a lot as a three/four.”

College coaches are taking notice of his game as well. Gus Yalden spoke exclusively with On3 about his visits and the current state of his recruitment.

Yalden talks visits

“I’ve taken two official visits and plan to take more in the spring,” Yalden said. “I took an official visit to Nebraska and Rutgers, and I’ll be taking a third official visit to Stanford in April or May. I’m definitely going to stay in the 2023 class. With my foot surgery, and all that time off, I will need that extra year.”

Rutgers: “I liked coach (Steve) Pikiell and what they are doing with Ron Harper, Jr. and Geo Baker. I think they are two of the most solid players in the Big Ten right now. I think they are on a 5-0 streak right now against ranked teams in the past few weeks. My favorite part of the visit was how hard the team competed and how hard the practice was. It was an intense and competitive environment, and it didn’t matter if you were a walk-on or Ron Harper. Jr. That was my favorite part. Also, Coach Pikiell and the staff are special.”

Nebraska: “They have struggled a bit in the Big Ten this year, but I think they are going to turn it around very soon. Coach (Fred) Hoiburg is a very good coach, and he showed that at Iowa State and then in the NBA. I think he did a great job with Georges Niang when he was at Iowa State, and everything they have been recruiting me on has been off Georges’ stuff. I’ve gotten to know Georges pretty well, and he speaks highly of Coach Hoiburg and that staff. I also grew up in Carney, Nebraska, about two and a half hours away from the campus. The amount of Husker pride in that state is unbelievable. They sell out basketball games and have won only one Big Ten game in the past two years. The die-hard fan base is really special.”

Stanford: “I really value my education; it is one of the reasons I came to Asheville School. I think Stanford is the same way, the elites of the elites all together, at one school. I could compete, not only on the court but in the classroom. The coaching staff is doing a good job of developing Stanford into an educationally elite school and an athletically elite school. They have had two lottery picks over the last couple of years and have Harrison (Ingram) looking to be a first-rounder as well. Also, I think Kanaan Carlyle and I could play a nice two-man game there, and that’s another reason I have been looking at them as well.”

Yalden talks recruitment

“I would say Loyola-Chicago has been on my pretty hard recently,” Gus Yalden said. “They have done a really good job in the past with their big men. I also think Wisconsin has done good job recruitment me recently. I went to middle school in Appleton, Wisconsin, and remember being a little kid. I’m going to visit them again in the Spring. I’d also say Penn State has been on me pretty hard. They have a new staff but recently had a big win over Michigan State, so they are on the rise.

“Yale has been pretty involved with me. They have a good staff and won the Ivy League the last couple of years and produced some pros. Don’t count out an Ivy education with me. College of Charleston is a lower school, but coach (Pat) Kelsey has been really close with my mom since they were in college. He has been a part of my life since I was a little kid, and playing for him would be special.”

The pro option

“I have talked with Overtime Elite right after my foot surgery,” Gus Yalden said. “We left it as a play-it-by-ear and will revisit it next year. I have not completely ruled out the option of playing in the Euro-league or the NBL yet. I am kind of just weighing all my options with that right now. The education piece will be the part I am going to have to feel comfortable. However, the option to make money earlier is a good thing.”

Yalden’s take

“My mom was a D-II All-American at Northern Kentucky,” Yalden said. “She led the country in rebounds and taught me all my post moves and game. My grandfather was a Super Bowl champ with the Dallas Cowboys and won the SEC Championship at LSU. His name is Billy Truax; he played tight end. My other grandfather was a running back at Penn. My cousin is the first boat on the crew team at Cal-Berkley. It looks like my other cousin will play in the junior hockey league this year. Athletics are significant in my family.

“I think every school is great and every coach good in their own right. They will all want to win. For me, it is going to be about who has produced the most NBA-level big guys and who has sent the most players overseas if the NBA isn’t an option for me. I will also look at what these programs are doing for their players after their careers. I want to have a good academic-based school that has the option if I leave early from school that I can come back and still get my degree.”

On3’s take

Gus Yalden has a strong frame and an excellent skill base. You immediately notice his footwork; he has an array of moves from 15-feet and in with upfakes and up-and-unders. He is a skilled ball-handler in the open floor and can knock down a three-pointer off the catch. The athleticism will be the ultimate question; where does he defend? However, he consistently gives great effort. Yalden is a matchup problem and has consistently given production at a high level