A year ago, general manager Trent Baalke reached out to a basketball player from his alma mater about changing sports and working out for the 49ers.
This year, Baalke has his eye on another former Bemidji State basketball player.
Brock Lutes, who was listed during basketball season at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is scheduled to visit with the 49ers on Tuesday in Santa Clara, agent Jeff Sperbeck told CSNBayArea.com.
Lutes was Bemidji’s leading scorer last season, averaging 16.3 points per game. He did not play football in college, but projects as a tight end. Lutes is not likely to get selected in the seven-round draft, but could be a strong candidate to be signed as undrafted free agent.
Originally, Lutes signed to play football at Washington State after a standout two-sport high school career in Newberg, Oregon. Things fell through, and Lutes ended up at two junior colleges in two years to focus on basketball before landing at Bemidji State.
This is the second time in two years the 49ers will investigate the possibility of converting a basketball player from the Division II school in Minnesota to the NFL.
The 49ers offered former Bemidji basketball player Zach Noreen a chance to attend their minicamp on a tryout basis. Noreen ultimately declined the opportunity. He planned to return to school to play a year of football. He was not on the Bemidji football team last season.
Baalke played outside linebacker and was an All-Northern Sun Conference and All-Midwest Region honoree during his football career at Bemidji.
