2025-26 Gopher Mens Basketball Roster

[60's Guy]

I'm not the guy to do this but we need one spot to see who we got... So:
1 Isaac Asuma 6-3 FR GOPHERS 5.6 ppg 2.9 reb
2 Grayson Grove 6-9 FR GOPHERS redshirted
3 Kai Shinholster. incoming Freshman
4. Jaylin Crocker-Johnson 6-8 Soph from Colorado St avg 9 ppg 4.4 Reb Announced 4/1/25
5. BJ Omot 6-8 JR from California Bears avg 10.8 ppg 3 reb Announced 4/2/25
6. Bobby Durkin 6-7 Soph from Davidson avg 13.5 ppg 5.9 reb Announced 4/7/25
7. Robert Vaihola 6-8 JR from San Jose St avg 7.5 ppg 7.5 reb. Announced 4/9/25
8. Langston Reynolds 6-4 JR from Northern Colorado avg 16.0 ppg 5.6 reb. Announced 4/13/25
9. Chansey Willis Jr 6-2 JR from Western Michigan avg 16.8 ppg 4.3 Reb. Annouced 4/14/25
10. Nehemiah Turner FR 6-10 from University of Central Arkansas avg 8.5 ppg on season but 18.5 last 10 games with high of 37 - 4.2 reb Announced 4-23-25
11.

Proposed new Men's Scholarship limit is 15. It was 13 for men. No walk-ons allowed beyond 15 scholarships.

Who is missing? I'll try and add late night updates as we sign people.

 

[golfing18now]

I'm not the guy to do this but we need one spot to see who we got... So:
1 Asuma
2 Grove
3 Kai Shinholster. Freshman
4. Jaylin Crocker-Johnson
5. Robert Vaihola
6. BJ Omot
7. Bobby Durkin

Who is missing? I'll try and add late night updates as we sign people.

@Otis is also doing this in the Niko's Roster Construction thread. Updating the first post.

 

[60's Guy]

For comparison...Iowa and Ben McCollum also need an entire roster:
April 13th and my research says so far only 5 Drake players have followed their coach to Iowa:
Tavion Banks
Kael Combs
Isaia Howard
Cam Manyawu
Bennett Stirtz
4/14 Iowa adds Brendan Hausen Kansas St 6-4 JR 10.9 ppg 2.5 reb
4/14 Iowa adds Iowa's Mr Basketball winner Trevin Jirak 6-9 incoming FR from West Des Moines HS was a UNI signee - flipped to Ben McCollum
8th Player: 4/20 Alvaro Folgueiras Robert Morris 6-9 SO. 14.1 ppg and 9.1 reb

Xavier and Richard Pitino need an entire roster:
1. Tre Carroll - Florida Atlantic 6-7 JR 12.2 ppg and 5.2 reb Punta Gorda, FL
2. Filip Borovicnin - New Mexico 6-9 JR 5.9 ppg 4.6 reb. Belgrade, Serbia
3. All Wright - Valparaiso 6-3 FR 15.5 ppg 2.2 reb. Durango, Mexico
4. Anthony Robinson - Virginia 6-10 FR 3.6 ppg 2.4 reb. Peachtree City, Georgia
5. Jovan Milicevic - New Mexico 6-10 FR 3.8 ppg 2 reb. Toronto, Canada
6. Pape N'Diaye - UNLV 7-0 FR 2.7 ppg 3.7 reb. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
7. Gabriel Pozzato - Evansville 6-7 FR 14.9 ppg 4.4 reb Rome. Italy via Australia
8. Malik Moore - Montana 6-5 JR 12.6 ppg 3.2 reb. Ventura, CA

Interesting to me... ROSTER Construction: 5 Freshmen Transfers so far and 5 players with the foreign country NIL angle
4 double figure college scorers of the first 8 guys and 6 are 6-7 or taller of the first 8 guys

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

For comparison...Iowa and Ben McCollum also need an entire roster:
April 13th and my research says so far only 5 Drake players have followed their coach to Iowa:
Tavion Banks
Kael Combs
Isaia Howard
Cam Manyawu
Bennett Stirtz

Xavier and Richard Pitino need an entire roster:
1. Tre Carroll - Florida Atlantic 6-7 JR 12.2 ppg and 5.2 reb Punta Gorda, FL
2. Filip Borovicnin - New Mexico 6-9 JR 5.9 ppg 4.6 reb. Belgrade, Serbia
3. All Wright - Valparaiso 6-3 FR 15.5 ppg 2.2 reb. Durango, Mexico
4. Anthony Robinson - Virginia 6-10 FR 3.6 ppg 2.4 reb. Peachtree City, Georgia
5. Jovan Milicevic - New Mexico 6-10 FR 3.8 ppg 2 reb. Toronto, Canada
6. Pape N'Diaye - UNLV 7-0 FR 2.7 ppg 3.7 reb. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
7. Gabriel Pozzato - Evansville 6-7 FR 14.9 ppg 4.4 reb Rome. Italy via Australia

Interesting to me... ROSTER Construction: 5 Freshmen Transfers so far and 5 players with the foreign country NIL angle
3 double figure college scorers of the first 7 guys and 6 are 6-7 or taller of the first 7 guys

As far as I can see, Rutgers has lost 8 of their top 11 due to NBA, eligibility, and the transfer portal. So far they've picked up only one player from the portal.

Penn State returns two starters (including their very good center) but little else and they haven't picked up a player from the portal yet. They do appear to have a pretty decent incoming freshman class.

 

[Holy Man]

As far as I can see, Rutgers has lost 8 of their top 11 due to NBA, eligibility, and the transfer portal. So far they've picked up only one player from the portal.

Penn State returns two starters (including their very good center) but little else and they haven't picked up a player from the portal yet. They do appear to have a pretty decent incoming freshman class.

Are their fans panicking yet?

 

[FinnGopher]

Are their fans panicking yet?

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

Are their fans panicking yet?

Don't know. Haven't gone to the Rutgers forum site. I did look up their freshmen recruits and they do have 4 incoming freshmen and two of them are 4 stars. Pikiell's seat could be getting a little warm. He's had two losing seasons in a row and hasn't won 20 games since 2019-20.

 

[60's Guy]

Been awhile since we had two guards who averaged 16 and 13.5 points per game or better on the same team hasn't it?

2017-18 Mason 16.7 and Coffey 14 and McBrayer 9.4
2013-14 Andre Hollins 13.6 and Austin Hollins 12.4 and DeAndre Mathieu 12

Hopefully, we keep adding scorers!! Good start!

 

[GopherBlood777]

I'm not the guy to do this but we need one spot to see who we got... So:
1 Isaac Asuma 6-3 FR GOPHERS 5.6 ppg 2.9 reb
2 Grayson Grove 6-9 FR GOPHERS Injured
3 Kai Shinholster. incoming Freshman
4. Jaylin Crocker-Johnson 6-8 Soph from Colorado St avg 9 ppg 4.4 Reb
5. Robert Vaihola 6-8 JR from San Jose St avg 7.5 ppg 7.5 reb
6. BJ Omot 6-8 JR from California Bears avg 10.8 ppg 3 reb
7. Bobby Durkin 6-7 Soph from Davidson avg 13.5 ppg 5.9 reb
8. Langston Reynolds 6-4 JR from Northern Colorado avg 16.0 ppg 5.6 reb

Proposed new Men's Scholarship limit is 15. It was 13 for men. No walk-ons allowed beyond 15 scholarships.

Who is missing? I'll try and add late night updates as we sign people.

Grove is injured?

 

[bga1]

I hope we get Nolan Groves. We need more size as well. 6-8 or 6-9 guys are fine if they are above the rim guys.

 

[Holy Man]

Grove is injured?

Was most of his senior season but not sure since.

 

[Holy Man]

I hope we get Nolan Groves. We need more size as well. 6-8 or 6-9 guys are fine if they are above the rim guys.

Does anyone know why he was relatively lightly recruited with his gaudy stats?

 

[Gophs24]

Does anyone know why he was relatively lightly recruited with his gaudy stats?

good question......but Texas Tech was quick to offer and line up a visit with him once he opened back up

 

[MaxyJR1]

Does anyone know why he was relatively lightly recruited with his gaudy stats?

Not sure how good of a shooter he is. Made two 3's a game and eight free throws. Make a lot of 2's, so he seems athletic.

 

[MaxyJR1]

good question......but Texas Tech was quick to offer and line up a visit with him once he opened back up

Likely a reevaluation after a great state tournament as teams are working the portal and HS kids to fill out rosters. Nearly every team is replacing significant number of players.

 

[GopherBlood777]

Was most of his senior season but not sure since.

He was healthy to start last season as he played in the exhibition games. He then redshirted as there would not have been any playing time for him last season. Curious if 60's guy thinks he redshirted due to injury, or if there is a new injury I had not heard of.

 

[leftyslefty]

Likely a reevaluation after a great state tournament as teams are working the portal and HS kids to fill out rosters. Nearly every team is replacing significant number of players.

Just observing the state tournament…..he does shoot a lot, and doesn’t really play point guard on the Orono team. Plays very hard and fearlessly……good passer too. No idea if Gophs are interested though.

 

[Gophs24]

Likely a reevaluation after a great state tournament as teams are working the portal and HS kids to fill out rosters. Nearly every team is replacing significant number of players.

He did a great job of filling out his body over the course of the last year as well


i do hope the gophers are interested....but Texas Tech may be hard to say no to while he is down there

 

[Bad Gopher]

He did a great job of filling out his body over the course of the last year as well


i do hope the gophers are interested....but Texas Tech may be hard to say no to while he is down there

It's amazing to me how Lubbock has gone from "Ewww, Lubbock" when Tubby took the job to "Lubbock will be hard to beat for the best recruits." It goes to show how ANYWHERE can become a great basketball destination. Don't listen to any bullshit about how terrible it is here and how nobody would ever want to set foot here.

 

[MaxyJR1]

It's amazing to me how Lubbock has gone from "Ewww, Lubbock" when Tubby took the job to "Lubbock will be hard to beat for the best recruits." It goes to show how ANYWHERE can become a great basketball destination. Don't listen to any bullshit about how terrible it is here and how nobody would ever want to set foot here.

$$$$

 

[Outsider]

It's amazing to me how Lubbock has gone from "Ewww, Lubbock" when Tubby took the job to "Lubbock will be hard to beat for the best recruits." It goes to show how ANYWHERE can become a great basketball destination. Don't listen to any bullshit about how terrible it is here and how nobody would ever want to set foot here.

Doesn’t hurt that their NIL collective has lots o dollars. One alum has thrown a lot of money at it.

 

[Bad Gopher]

$$$$

True.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

TT won the NC a handful of yrs ago.

 

[Bad Gopher]

TT won the NC a handful of yrs ago.

They were in the title game but lost to UVa. But yes, now they're one of the premier programs in the country.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

They were in the title game but lost to UVa. But yes, now they're one of the premier programs in the country.

He is probably referring to Marsha Sharp and the women's team. It's Spaulding.

 

[TheRealUncleRico]

Does anyone know why he was relatively lightly recruited with his gaudy stats?

He seems like the typical MN kid that in years past ends up at a mid major averaging 20ppg but I only find out about him in the tournament as he leads his team to the sweet 16. I gasp as I mutter under breath “what… this kids from Minnesota”. Then after a quick google search I see he averaged over 30ppg in high school and we never offered him. I throw my phone on the couch in disbelief… I grab my goldy gopher stuffy and I close my eyes and tell myself over and over that one day things will be better… anyway weird story. Why do you guys think he isn’t highly recruited?

 

[Spottedmuskie]

He seems like the typical MN kid that in years past ends up at a mid major averaging 20ppg but I only find out about him in the tournament as he leads his team to the sweet 16. I gasp as I mutter under breath “what… this kids from Minnesota”. Then after a quick google search I see he averaged over 30ppg in high school and we never offered him. I throw my phone on the couch in disbelief… I grab my goldy gopher stuffy and I close my eyes and tell myself over and over that one day things will be better… anyway weird story. Why do you guys think he isn’t highly recruited?

Very accurate. Anyone who averages that much ppg in MN 4A basketball should have an offer. What about the Champlin Park kid? Last guy to score this much was Zach Lofton from Columbia heights and tore it up at New Mexico State and probably somewhere else. Got some minutes with the Pistons as well

 

[Holy Man]

He seems like the typical MN kid that in years past ends up at a mid major averaging 20ppg but I only find out about him in the tournament as he leads his team to the sweet 16. I gasp as I mutter under breath “what… this kids from Minnesota”. Then after a quick google search I see he averaged over 30ppg in high school and we never offered him. I throw my phone on the couch in disbelief… I grab my goldy gopher stuffy and I close my eyes and tell myself over and over that one day things will be better… anyway weird story. Why do you guys think he isn’t highly recruited?

I have no idea but I can speculate that the recruiting process deemed him to slow for high majors. That’s a guess.

 

[Juicer]

I have no idea but I can speculate that the recruiting process deemed him to slow for high majors. That’s a guess.

I've seen this kid play over several years. Classic late bloomer physically. As a sophomore, he was 5'10. As a junior, good, but 6'1-2. As a senior, 6'4-5" and really filled out. Missed some of the AAU exposure due to the growth stuff. He's athletic, but not overly fast; can shoot it, but not a bomber; just a really solid player who is physically overpowering in high school, and knows how to score. There are other kids locally who score and have size (Wagner kid from Champlin) who just kinda fly under the radar and then explode, but with the transfer portal at high majors attracting the most attention, kids who are in the 200-400 range ranking wise get lost a bit. This has happened a lot in football too. Why recruit a high school kid to sit for a year, when you can fill your roster with a 22 year old with lots of experience at a mid-major?

I think most kids in this situation would go mid-major and try and dominate, then move up (hundreds of examples of this at this point), but some kids may be ok taking some money and sitting for a year or two.

 

[NYtoWItoMN]

It's amazing to me how Lubbock has gone from "Ewww, Lubbock" when Tubby took the job to "Lubbock will be hard to beat for the best recruits." It goes to show how ANYWHERE can become a great basketball destination. Don't listen to any bullshit about how terrible it is here and how nobody would ever want to set foot here.

For real though- Lincoln (Not even Omaha), Tuscaloosa, Iowa City, Storrs, Athens etc are not your typical destinations for young people. Chapel Hill?? Twin Cities can be a major draw if done right. Even if not done right, though, 15/20+ years of winning can completely transform a school. 25-50 years (aka a Coach K-like career) can irreversibly transform an area.