Minnesota men's basketball adds trio of 2026 signees to roster
On Wednesday, Minnesota’s three member class for the 2026 recruiting cycle was officially signed, sealed, and delivered. The program announced the signings of three-star center Chadrack Mpoyi, three-star small forward Nolen Anderson, and three-star point guard Cedric Tomes.
C Chadrack Mpoyi – Crean Lutheran (CA)
Crean Lutheran (CA) center Chadrack Mpoyi. committed to the Gophers over offers from UC Santa Barbara, Utah State, and Oregon State among others. He took his official visit to Minnesota on August 28, coinciding with the Minnesota football program’s season opener.
Mpoyi is ranked by Rivals as the No. 163 player nationally, the No. 19 center, and the No. 23 player in the state of California.
““Chadrack has an incredible upside, has a great motor and is athletic,” Medved said. “One of the first things we noticed was how well he moves for his size and his ability to move his feet and protect the rim. He’s only been playing the sport for five years, but we’re excited to see what he can do here. Off the court, he’s a great young man and fits what we’re looking to build here.”
SF Nolen Anderson – Wayzata (MN)
The in-state small forward out of Wayzata (MN) committed to Minnesota at the end of July over offers from Northern Iowa, Drake, Virginia Tech, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Toledo, Montana, and Ohio. He also added offers from Drake, Toledo, and Virginia Tech before his decision.
According to the Minnesota Basketball Hub, Anderson last year for Wayzata averaged 17.5 points per game while shooting 38.6% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range (9-of-22). His 17.5 points per game were second on Wayzata, only behind Iowa State signee Christian Wiggins, who averaged 19.1 points per game.
“Nolen is a great combination of size and skill,” Medved said. He’s a big wing that has won at a high level both in high school and in the AAU circuit. He’s a great shooter who has continued to improve each year. Nolen plays with a chip on his shoulder and is an outstanding competitor. We’re thrilled to have him as a Gopher.”
PG Cedric Tomes – Eastridge (MN)
Tomes committed to the Gophers this spring as the first prospect to commit the program in the Niko Medved era. The in-state prospect committed to the Gophers over offers Bryant, Drake, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, and Saint Louis.
Times is rated by Rivals a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 30 point guard in the nation, and the No. 4 player in the state of Florida.
“Cedric is a versatile point guard who is a true leader and a great decision maker,” Medved said. “He’s a three-level scorer and understands how to win. Ced continues to improve each year and has really built his game throughout his career. A great athlete from an athletic basketball family, we’re really excited to have Ced in the maroon and gold.”
