Minnesota is getting a close look at one of the faster-rising names in the 2027 class.
Niko Medved and the Gophers are set to host Texas wing/forward Isaiah Santos for an official visit in Minneapolis on July 22-23, according to League Ready’s Sam Kayser. Santos, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound prospect from Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, is rated as the No. 5 player in Texas and a top-80 player nationally in 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
The Minnesota trip is part of a busy run of official visits for Santos. Kayser reported that he’ll be at Vanderbilt on July 20-21, then Minnesota on July 22-23, and Texas Tech on July 24-25.
Santos also took his first official visit to Butler in late June. His offer list includes Houston, Illinois, Colorado, Mississippi State and others.
Santos has been one of the biggest risers this summer, and the production backs that up. He represents Brazil internationally and recently helped the country finish third at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in Mexico.
Across six games, he averaged 14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in a little more than 23 minutes per game, highlighted by a 22-point, 15-rebound outing against Argentina. He also posted similar numbers while helping Brazil win gold at last year’s U17 South American championship.
On the court, Santos looks more like a power forward than a traditional wing. He’s not a major outside shooting threat right now, but he gets downhill with athleticism and strength, finishes at the rim, and brings real value as a rebounder and defender. He’s comfortable mixing it up inside and has touch from the short and midrange areas, with his shooting form leaving room for growth from deep.
Minnesota is still waiting on its first commitment in the 2027 class. The Gophers have already missed on in-state prospects Ty Schlagel, who chose Nebraska, and Baboucarr Ann, who picked Wisconsin. They do have offers out to several targets, including former Hopkins standout Ahmed Nur, who is transferring to a prep school in Arizona for his senior season.
As Tony Liebert noted, Minnesota’s approach may not need to be as broad as it once was. With the NCAA’s new eligibility model, the Gophers may not have to load up on a large high school class in 2027, which gives them more room to be selective with their offers.