Even prior to Colorado State season being over, there were rumors circulating that, not only was Niko Medved bound for Dinkytown, but that multiple Rams players could possibly follow. Two weeks later, 2024-25 starting forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson — who averaged 9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Rams last season — has already committed to the MN Gophers.

But the most intriguing former player from Medved’s Colorado State team who’s in the transfer portal with links to the Gophers is sophomore guard Kyan Evans. The 6-2, 175 lb playmaker out of Kansas City, MO averaged 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on an impressive 44.6% shooting from deep.

Kyan Evans to visit Minnesota Gophers

Late Thursday night, on a short scoops session for KSTP, local insider Darren Wolfson reported the latest and greatest update on Minnesota’s pursuit of Evans. According to his report, Kyan will be on campus next week when the transfer portal dead period is over (April 7).

“The Gophers continue to pursue point guard Kyan Evans hard. He will visit [Minnesota] after this week-long dead period. He played for Niko Medved at Colorado State.”

Darren Wolfson – Channel 5 Eyewitness News (KSTP)

Kyan Evans represents the exact type of guard talent that Niko Medved wants to build his early Golden Gophers program around. He’s a young kid who has two years of his four-year eligibility remaining and has supposedly drawn interest other power four schools.

Related: Williams Arena Naming Rights Up For Sale

But outside of Minnesota and Missouri, there isn’t a lot of steam out there publicly on who may be interested. It’s also possible that he’s pretty much made up his mind… Without a doubt, this is really good news for the new Minnesota Gophers head coach. Could Niko have another transfer portal commitment up his sleeve next week. At this point, it sure seems like it.

Colorado State Kyan Evans steps up big with 23 pts giving the rams their 11th straight win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aL0i7NC4tZ

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 21, 2025

Gophers fans watched Medved’s Colorado State squad make some waves during the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by Maryland’s controversial buzzer-beater. Among the players that helped grab a victory was star guard Kyan Evans. There has been thought Medved may bring him to Minnesota, and that’s getting closer to becoming a reality.

Kyan Evans hits transfer portal, may follow Niko Medved to Minnesota Gophers

Kyan Evans was among Colorado State’s best players last season. The guard averaged 10.6 points per game for Niko Medved, and he’s now seeking a new opportunity. After his head coach left for the Big Ten, it makes sense for Evans to reunite with him in Minnesota.

NEWS: Colorado State guard Kyan Evans is entering the transfer portal, he confirmed to @LeagueRDY.

Evans is a 6-foot-2 guard who has played the last two seasons at Colorado State. The Kansas City, Missouri native started all 36 games this season for the Rams.

He averaged… pic.twitter.com/cPBZW0s4I0

— Sam Kayser – 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) March 29, 2025

As a freshman, Evans played in 36 games but didn’t draw a single start. This season however, he played in the same 36 games, but started all of them. He averaged 28.2 minutes per game, and truly shined with a 23 point game against Memphis during the NCAA Tournament.

If Niko Medved and the Gophers can land Evans, he would immediately become the starting point guard for Minnesota. Femi Odukale and Lu’Cye Patterson both graduated for the Gophers, and leave a sizable hole in the starting lineup.

Medved has a couple of potential transfer candidates from the Rams 2024-25 roster, but it has always been Evans that appeared to be the cream of the crop. Former Northern Iowa standout Ali Farokhmanesh took over at Colorado State for Medved, and he will be hoping to retain some of the returning talent.

Kyan Evans is feeling it! @CSUMBasketball pic.twitter.com/AvE3QHnwbc

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025

Evans is a player that should be capable of getting The Barn rocking, and Medved will need key contributors if he’s going to turn the program around. Johnson had a winning record in just one of his four seasons, and departed with a 56-71 overall record that was largely propped up by weak non-conference scheduled.

The next part of this process if for Medved to bring Evans to Dinkytown and end the transfer experience for his standout guard.

Athletic director Mark Coyle now must find a replacement for Johnson. The assumption has been that Colorado State head coach — and Minneapolis native — Niko Medved will be the choice. That can’t become official, however, until his Colorado State team loses in the NCAA Tournament.

As soon as it does become official, Medved will look to transform a Minnesota Golden Gophers program in need of a serious makeover and desperate for more talent. According to LaVelle E. Neal (Star Tribune), Niko will start that process by pilfering talent from his current Rams roster.

Niko Medved may bring Kyan Evans to Minnesota Gophers

Twelve seed Colorado State is fresh off a 78-70 “upset” victory against five seed Memphis during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Rams guard, Kyan Evans, led all scorers with 23 points on just 11 shots. He went 6-of-9 from deep and shot over 64% from the field. Even better, Evans is only a sophomore. And rumor has it he may be on his way East, along with his head coach, when this magical season ends and Niko Medved takes his dream job in Dinkytown, as expected.

Hearing that if Niko is the next Gophers hoops coach he might bring a player with him

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) March 23, 2025

In 35 starts this season, Evans averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game (28 MPG). The Kansas City, MO native is only now blossoming, but what he’s already proven with his two years in the Mountain West is that he can shoot the lights out of any arena, something Memphis found out on Friday. Evans shot 47.2% from the field this season, which included an absurd 44.4% from deep.

Related: Supposed Gophers MBB Coach Seeded for NCAA Tournament

Minnesota has already lost some of its 2024-25 talent to the transfer portal, after having their roster decimated last offseason. Medved will need to transform the roster quickly if he wants any chance to win in year one. And unless he has some sort of magic up his sleeve, he’s not going to have time to raise NIL funds. Bringing someone like Kyan Evans with him would be a very nice start, though.

6TH 3-POINTER OF THE DAY FOR KC EVANS ☔️#MarchMadness @CSUMBasketball pic.twitter.com/6VDV1LtfS7

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025

The Minnesota Gophers return very little talent at the guard position next season. Only freshman Isaac Asuma and sophomore Max Sheridan have eligibility remaining, after this season. Sheridan logged only a single minute all season. Asuma — a Cherry, MN native — was Ben Johnson’s huge get on the recruiting trail last offseason. He played in 32 games, averaging 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game (24.7 MPG).

Who else could join Medved and Evans with MN Gophers?

Medved may look to bring more than one player with him as well. Forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is another sophomore who played in 35 games, drawing 28 starts. He is Colorado State’s fourth-leading scorer this season, at 9.1 points per game, behind two seniors and Evans.

Sophomore guard Rashaan Mbemba is an Austrian native who started 28 of 31 games in 2024-25 for the Rams. He averaged 7.2 points, per game. Bowen Born is a 5’11” junior guard who averaged 4.9 points and 1.5 assists in 14.8 MPG. Born began his college career at Northern Iowa and is a Norwalk, Iowa native.

Related: Sounds Like Mark Coyle Has Found the Next Gophers Men’s Basketball Coach

Quite possibly the most logical transfer for Medved is freshman Kyle Jorgenson. The Minneapolis native, and Washburn alum, is just a freshman and played in 33 games this season. He made four starts and the 6’9″ forward has shot 42.9% from the field.

At the end of the day Medved has his work cut out to put together a capable roster. The more familiarity he can bring with him, the better. Minnesota certainly isn’t in a position to scoff at Mountain West transfers.