New Gophers MBB Coach Gets Re-Commitment from Top Freshman

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Niko Medved - Minnesota Gophers men's basketball head coach
Credit: Photo courtesy of Gophers athletics

The Minnesota Gophers canned Ben Johnson in the middle of the night. The only thing surprising about head coach’s dismissal is that it didn’t happen sooner. How quickly athletic director Mark Coyle shifted to the future, though, caught many off-guard.

Less than 12 hours after the firing, Darren Wolfson (KSTP) was on SKOR North all but announcing Colorado State head coach Niko Medved as Coyle’s predetermined, hand-chosen guy. Now, the focus shifts again, this time to roster-building. It’s possible Medved brings one or more players to Minnesota from his 2024-25 round-of-32 Rams team.

As far as last year’s Golden Gophers are concerned, big man Frank Mitchell is on his way to his third school in three seasons. Minnesota will also lose Dawson Garcia, Parker Fox, Mike Mitchell Jr, Lu’Cye Patterson and Femi Odukale to eligibility.

Isaac Asuma back for Medved, Minnesota Gophers

Isaac Asuma - Minnesota Gophers
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

So that’s who’s leaving. But is there any talent Niko Medved is trying to keep around? Well, the list isn’t long, but without a doubt, his no. 1 priority is Cherry, MN’s own true freshman point guard, Isaac Asuma, a 4-star high school recruit and No. 2 ranked player in the MN class of 2024, according to 247 Sports.

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In his first collegiate season, the teenage Asuma played in 32 games with the Minnesota Gophers averaging 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 24.7 minutes per game. Obviously, a Ben Johnson commit, Isaac Asuma announced Wednesday via social media that he will be returning to the University of Minnesota for his Sophomore season.

As a Minnesota native, Asuma’s re-commitment to new head coach like Medved could lead to a waterfall of commitments from outside the program, over the next few months. How much talent Niko can reel in before the start of next season will dictate what kind of role Isaac will have on the floor next season.

But even months prior to games being played, the pride of Cherry high school’s announcement today is the single-most important thing to happen so far in Niko Medved’s two day tenure at the helm.

Medved must figure out Gophers MBB NIL problem

Ben Johnson failed to harness name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities while leading the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball program, which eventually spelled his doom. That’s why Niko Medved made it clear in his opening press conference, he plans to attack NIL funding head-on.

Medved’s views on NIL (among other things) was a far cry from what we had become used to hearing from Ben. Let’s hope he puts NIL money where his mouth is because the Golden Gophers men’s program desperately needs an influx of talent, and they need it in short order.

Related: Another Homegrown Former Gopher Re-Enters Transfer Portal

It stands to reason that the Gophers roster will have much more developmental talent under Medved. How much he can do within the current scope of NCAA basketball remains to be seen. He’s coming from a place where the uphill battle was significantly higher, however.

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