Niko Medved may have tipped his hand on where Minnesota’s frontcourt is headed.
With summer practice rolling along and the Gophers still sorting through nine new additions, the clearest clue so far came Wednesday when Medved laid out how he expects Jaylen Crocker-Johnson to be used next season. After being forced into major minutes at center for most of last year, Crocker-Johnson appears set to move back to a more natural spot.
“We were able to get him cleared for the spring, so I think he had a really good spring, just kind of trying to improve his skill level, get stronger. I think for him, he had to play so many minutes at our P-spot, or kind of a more undersized five, and I think he'll be able to play, obviously, a lot more minutes this year, back kind of at a forward position for us, which he did at Colorado State,” Medved said on Wednesday.
“It doesn't mean that he'll never play a small-ball (five), cause he was effective at times. But I think it will kind of allow him to kind of create some things for us that is a little more natural for him.”
That matters because Crocker-Johnson gave Minnesota real production before an injury ended his season. He averaged 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, and now he’s back with legitimate all-conference upside.
The bigger question is who joins him.
Grayson Grove is the only other returning big, but Minnesota also brought in Michigan transfer Malick Kordel and freshman Chadrack Mpoyi. Of that group, Kordel looks like the piece that could change the shape of the lineup. The 7-foot-2 center is exactly the kind of size the Gophers missed in the Big Ten last season, and Medved sounded genuinely encouraged by what he’s seen.
“He's huge. I think Minnesota fans would appreciate - I mean, I'd love to see him and Rudy Gobert stand next to each other cause I swear that I don't know that there's much difference in size that way.
He's just a great young man. He's got a great spirit about him, great smile.
He has really only played organized basketball for five years,” Medved said.
“For somebody his size, he's really fluid, he has got really good hands, he can run, not afraid to play physical. He just needs experience.
He just need to play, and keep getting better. He has been able to just in a practice setting, in a short time, kind of add a dimension that we haven't had here.”
Kordel has been something of a mystery since arriving in the Twin Cities. The Oberhausen, Germany, native has only played organized basketball for five years, and his lone college season at Michigan included just 14 games. Even so, his size alone makes him a compelling fit, and he reportedly turned heads in practice on Wednesday.
That leaves Minnesota with a pretty clear direction, even if nothing is locked in this far from opening night. Isaac Asuma and Kyan Evans look close to automatic in the backcourt, with Bobby Durkin on the wing. The Gophers could always go smaller and slide Crocker-Johnson to center with someone like Winters Grady at another wing spot, but the preference appears to be a true five next to him.
For now, that points toward Crocker-Johnson and Kordel as the most likely opening-night frontcourt pairing as Medved enters year two in Minneapolis.
In Other News...
Minnesota May Have Found The Backfield Spark It Has Been Missing
Minnesotas offseason search for a backfield jolt may have turned up a useful one in TJ Thomas, the Elon transfer who arrived with some real small-school polish and a reputation for making things happen in space. The Gophers have spent the spring and summer sorting through a handful of players projected to matter in bigger ways this fall, and Thomas stands out because his path to the lineup does not have to be the same as the every-down lead back.
The more intriguing part is how quickly he could carve out a defined job if the staff likes what it sees once the pads come on. Thomas is viewed as a change-of-pace option who can help Minnesota in several spots, and the same goes for Noah Jennings, another player expected to earn trust and steady playing time. If the Gophers are going to find more juice in the run game and on the margins of field position, it might come from players like these turning early opportunity into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
One Early Medved Practice Trend Should Excite Gophers Fans
Niko Medveds first few practices at Minnesota have already offered a glimpse of the style he wants to build, and the early read is a promising one for Gophers fans. The session observed by the media looked fast, active and heavily involved, with Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Grayson Grove drawing notice as solid contributors while the staff kept the group moving through a brisk workout.
Kyan Evans, one of the transfers expected to factor in quickly, also stood out for how naturally he fit into the flow of practice. He looked confident working within the system and carried himself like a player who already understands what Medved is asking on both ends, which matters for a roster still taking shape while Malachi Palmer, Winters Grady and Blake Nixon were sidelined by injuries. [Read more 🡒]
Niko Medved Just Raised The Pressure On Minnesota's Next Season
Niko Medved is already talking like a coach who knows the schedule will be a measuring stick, and the upcoming 2026-27 non-conference slate is shaping up that way. Minnesota is expected to play 12 games before Big Ten play begins, with five high-major opponents in the mix, a setup that should tell plenty about where the Gophers stand after a summer of getting on the floor together.
Medved said the team just finished a four-week summer practice run with most of the roster active, and he liked what he saw in terms of depth, size and experience compared with last season. There are still a few bumps in the way, with Blake Nixon working back from a winter injury and Winters Grady and Malachi Palmer dealing with minor ankle issues, but the schedule is nearing completion and an announcement should follow once the last contracts are signed. [Read more 🡒]