North Carolina guard Kyan Evans became Minnesota’s fourth transfer portal addition of the offseason on Saturday afternoon. After retaining the core of last year’s roster, they’ve set themselves up well heading into the 2026-27 season. Let’s break down where their roster currently stands.
Gophers updated roster outlook after their transfer portal haulG: Kyan EvansG: Isaac AsumaF: Bobby DurkinF: Jaylen Crocker-JohnsonC: Malick Kordel6th: Winters Grady7th: Nolan Groves8th: Grayson Grove9th: Kai ShinholsterBench: Anderson, Tomes, Mpoyi, Lorenson pic.twitter.com/b9U6EeMtpb
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) April 18, 2026
Potential 2026-27 rotation
- G: Kyan Evans
- G: Isaac Asuma
- F: Bobby Durkin
- F: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson
- C: Malick Kordel
I would be stunned if Evans, Asuma, Durkin or Crocker-Johnson aren’t everyday starters. That leaves one starting position up for grabs. The Gophers certainly have options, and I favor Kordel getting the nod as a true center alongside Crocker-Johnson in the frontcourt.
Starting doesn’t necessarily mean Kordel will play 30 minutes per game. A scenario where he’s at 15-20 minutes per game, and they bump Crocker-Johnson to the five and roll with a smaller lineup is entirely possible.
- 6th: Winters Grady
- 7th: Nolan Groves
- 8th: Grayson Grove
- 9th: Kai Shinholster
- Bench: Chadrack Mpoyi, Nolen Anderson, Cedric Tomes, Max Lorenson
If Minnesota does opt for a smaller lineup, I could foresee Grady as the player who slides into the starting lineup. A trio of Grady, Groves and Grove off the bench are three legit options that are more than capable of starting if there were an injury. Mpoyi, Anderson and Tomes all have the potential to contribute as true freshmen, but they will have to earn it.
Will they add any more players?
Shinholster and Lorenson have not made a formal announcement about their returns, but they would give Minnesota 13 players out of the 15-man limit as things currently stand. I expect one of the final two roster spots to go to a walk-on type player like Lorenson or Maximus Gizzi from the 2025-26 roster…