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The Gophers men’s basketball program signed its first big man via the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.
Minnesota added 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward/center Robert Vaihola after playing two years at San Jose State and one year at Fresno State.
New Gophers coach Niko Medved saw Vaihola up close as head coach at Colorado State last year. In a statement, Medved called him “one of the best rebounders in the Mountain West” Conference.
“He has a great physical presence in the paint, a gritty competitor and just a force around the rim,” Medved added in his statement. “Off the court, he’s just an amazing person to have on our team and we’re excited that he’s a Gopher.”
Vaihola, who appears to have one year of eligibility remaining for Minnesota, averaged 7.5 rebounds (2.5 on the offensive glass) and 7.5 points last season. He shot 54% from the field and averaged 1.4 blocks across all 31 games a year ago.
The San Mateo, Calif., native did not play in a redshirt year in 2023-24, but averaged 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 games for San Jose State in 2022-23. During his freshman year at Fresno State in ’21-22, he was mostly a reserve — 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game — before transferring out.
Vaihola is the fourth incoming player to be added via the portal, joining Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Davidson wing Bobby Durkin and California forward BJ Omot.
Minnesota has six remaining scholarship spots available for next season.
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Minnesota added 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward/center Robert Vaihola after playing two years at San Jose State and one year at Fresno State.
New Gophers coach Niko Medved saw Vaihola up close as head coach at Colorado State last year. In a statement, Medved called him “one of the best rebounders in the Mountain West” Conference.
“He has a great physical presence in the paint, a gritty competitor and just a force around the rim,” Medved added in his statement. “Off the court, he’s just an amazing person to have on our team and we’re excited that he’s a Gopher.”
Vaihola, who appears to have one year of eligibility remaining for Minnesota, averaged 7.5 rebounds (2.5 on the offensive glass) and 7.5 points last season. He shot 54% from the field and averaged 1.4 blocks across all 31 games a year ago.
The San Mateo, Calif., native did not play in a redshirt year in 2023-24, but averaged 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 games for San Jose State in 2022-23. During his freshman year at Fresno State in ’21-22, he was mostly a reserve — 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game — before transferring out.
Vaihola is the fourth incoming player to be added via the portal, joining Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Davidson wing Bobby Durkin and California forward BJ Omot.
Minnesota has six remaining scholarship spots available for next season.
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