As Tuesday dawned, the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team, now led by new head coach Niko Medved, had just two scholarship players listed on its roster. Both were freshmen from the 2024 class, with one yet to see any game time. This sparse lineup isn’t surprising at this stage, nor does it offer any hints about the final shape of the 2025-26 team.
Given that it’s only April 1, we’re still in the initial phase of the offseason transfer portal period. At this early juncture, Medved couldn’t possibly predict the full scope of NIL and revenue-sharing funds available for assembling the roster. Simply put, many elements are still in flux.
Ultimately, Niko has already demonstrated his coaching prowess, achieving success with fewer resources during his tenure at Colorado State. I’m confident that the Golden Gophers men’s basketball team next season will boast greater talent and secure a better Big Ten ranking than the 15-win group Ben Johnson fielded in his final campaign.
Minnesota Gophers receive commitment from Colorado State stretch big
On Tuesday afternoon, Niko Medved kicked off his roster construction as the new head coach of his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, securing his first reported transfer portal commitment. Appropriately, per Travis Branham of 247Sports, it’s Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, a power forward from Colorado State.
Crocker-Johnson played his most recent season with the Rams, following a freshman year at Little Rock, where he earned the Ohio Valley Freshman of the Year title in 2023-24. He brings two remaining years of college eligibility to the Gophers, a valuable asset as Medved begins shaping the team.
NEWS: Colorado State sophomore Jaylen Corcker-Johnson has entered the portal and will follow Niko Medved to Minnesota, his agency ProMondo Sports tells @247Sports.
Averaged 9.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG this season and was named the 2023-24 Ohio Valley Freshman of the Year.… pic.twitter.com/orf2OlWszX
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) April 1, 2025
When news surfaced earlier on Tuesday about his transfer, many speculated that Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had a set destination in mind. Upon entering the portal, he marked his status as “Do Not Contact,” signaling a deliberate choice to join Medved in Dinkytown. Evidently, the 6’8″, 230-pound stretch big from San Antonio, Texas, relished his brief stint under the new Gophers head coach last season, prompting him to head north to Minnesota for the 2025-26 season.
What does Jaylen Crocker-Johnson bring to Medved’s Gophers?
During the 2024-25 season at Colorado State, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson averaged 9.0 points per game, shooting 49% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc, while playing 21.5 minutes per contest. He also contributed 4.4 rebounds and nearly 1 block per game. After coming off the bench in seven of the Rams’ first 13 games, the sophomore transfer earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup.
A glance at his game logs from last season reveals that while his scoring could fluctuate night to night, Crocker-Johnson remained a consistent presence on the boards and defensively. This pickup marks a strong initial step in Medved’s roster-building efforts.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson – Minnesota transfer
The 6'8 forward averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game during his sophomore season at Colorado State
Crocker-Johnson showed a good rim protection ability while also being efficient in the post pic.twitter.com/vRpKrTLMV0
— Joe Jackson (@joejacksonCBB) April 1, 2025
The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team is now turning its attention to the next piece of the puzzle for the 2025-26 roster, which currently stands at three players with Jaylen Crocker-Johnson on board. Speculation has swirled around other potential transfers from the 2024-25 Colorado State squad, where new head coach Niko Medved previously coached.
At the forefront of those rumors is Kyan Evans, a standout sophomore guard who started all 36 games for the Rams last season. Evans posted an impressive 10.6 points per game while shooting 44% from three-point range, making him a tantalizing prospect for the Gophers.
Beyond that, there’s a wealth of talent with Minnesota connections still available, and the university has shown a renewed commitment to elevating its men’s basketball program, a shift that marks a departure from recent years.
With this foundation, the coming 3-5 months will be telling as Medved works to assemble the roster. That said, it’s almost certain we’ll see fresh talent join the fold well before then.
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