Wisconsin keeps making noise in Minnesota, and the latest recruiting swing has put Niko Medved back under the microscope.
The Badgers’ 2027 class already includes two four-star commitments and one three-star pledge, with one prospect coming from Wisconsin and the other two from Minnesota. That’s the kind of haul that naturally gets attention north of the border, especially when Greg Gard keeps landing players the Gophers would rather keep home.
Andy Greder of TwinCities.com (Pioneer Press) pointed directly at Medved in his latest analysis, writing, "the latest two [recruits to leave for Wisconsin] will directly reflect on Gophers head coach Niko Medved."
Analysis » Minnesota boys basketball players keep becoming Wisconsin Badgers. The prospects who have headed east over the last decade have had mixed results, and the latest two will directly reflect on #Gophers head coach Niko Medved. https://t.co/ScMqdI7NnD
- Andy Greder (@andygreder) July 3, 2026
Medved has been in Minnesota for just over a season, but the pressure around in-state recruiting is already obvious. Some Gophers fans wanted that pipeline cleaned up quickly. Instead, Minnesota is again watching elite local talent head elsewhere.
At the same time, the larger picture is a little more complicated than the “Wisconsin takes all of Minnesota’s best players” storyline suggests. Gard has had a bigger issue with Iowa State pulling top in-state talent than with Minnesota recruits crossing into Madison.
Still, the Badgers have just added Baboucarr Ann, the No. 1 player in Minnesota for 2027, and No. 3 Jake Thelen.
To find the last Minnesota high school players Wisconsin signed before that, you have to go back to 2024, when the Badgers landed Daniel Freitag and Jack Robison. Neither stayed on track in Madison, and both have transferred.
Even with that mixed track record, Minnesota fans have plenty of reminders that Wisconsin can still hit on recruits from the state. Nolan Winter is thriving for the Badgers, Steven Crowl remains a recent example, Jack Janicki is still on the roster and producing, and Brad Davison is now on Gard’s staff after his own Minnesota-to-Wisconsin path.
Greder’s point is the one that matters for Medved: the Gophers coach has not yet been able to lock down his own state. Minnesota’s top 2026 recruit went to Iowa State, and the top 2027 recruit ended up at Wisconsin. Greder’s full piece goes further behind the paywall, but the message is clear enough.
There is some optimism that the situation can improve, but for now Gard has the upper hand. And the Badgers may not be done.
Minnesota’s top 2028 player is KJ Wilson, and he already has two offers. Gard was first to extend one, with Arizona State not far behind.
Medved is not on the list yet, which is not exactly encouraging for Gopher fans if Wisconsin keeps building on this run.
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