Minnesota Gophers‘ new coach Niko Medved knows his first year at Minnesota will be a critical year to bring back a program that hasn’t qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2017. Late last week they had their second incoming freshman decommit from Minnesota. Jacob Ross decommitted the previous week and now another three-star recruit and the most exciting player, Parker Jefferson, has asked to be released from his commitment. These decisions have now brought the Gophers roster down to two players.
Despite recent setbacks, the Gophers secured vital commitments from Issac Asuma and Grayson Grove for 2025. Medved’s development will be crucial for Asuma, who displayed promising potential last season and is poised for an expanded role. Though redshirted as a freshman, Grove’s toughness, defensive prowess, and all-around ability make him a crucial asset to the Gopher team.
Medved has been focused on utilizing the transfer portal to complete the team’s roster. He has also allocated time for high school recruiting for the 2026 season and beyond. On Sunday night, the new head coach extended an offer to Minnesota’s top 2026 recruit, according to 247Sports.
Gophers Pursue 2026 Powerhouse, Offering Top MN Recruit
Niko Medved made a significant recruiting push Sunday night, offering a scholarship to Christian Wiggins, the nation’s top high school prospect. Wiggins, a standout junior at Wayzata High School, recently captured a state championship over Cretin-Derham Hall.
Wiggins, a highly regarded four-star prospect in the 2026 class, tallied 21 points, pulled down 5 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in Wayzata’s state title win. The pursuit of Wiggins’ commitment will be difficult, considering the other major programs that have been offered to him. Wiggins’ extensive offer list includes Clemson, Creighton, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Stanford, and Wisconsin. His talent suggests he will receive further offers in his senior year.
Christian Wiggins: A Prodigious Talent Emerges
Being the top-ranked prospect in Minnesota for 2026, more schools have been put on notice. As of Monday, Wiggins is the 69th-ranked recruit in his class (11th-best SG), according to 247Sports. He would be a crucial addition to the Gophers’ young squad. Medved has had a proven track record of developing talent and bringing basketball programs back to their relevance.
Wiggins has already surpassed 1,000 career points for Wayzata, with his senior season remaining. As a junior, he averaged 19.1 points per game, and scored a season-high 31 points against Hopkins in the section championship, punching Wayzata’s way into a state appearance.
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