Former Division III McAlester guard Caleb Williams and New Mexico State wing Femi Odukare announced Wednesday that they are transferring to the Gophers men's basketball team.
With the news that freshman Cam Christie has entered the transfer portal, Gophers coach Ben Johnson has acquired two graduate transfers who have started a total of 160 games in their college careers.
Odukale, a 6-6, 205-pound Brooklyn native, averaged 10.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks for the Aggies last season. He played his first three seasons at Pittsburgh and Seton Hall. He averaged a career-best 10.8 points with the Panthers two seasons ago.
Last season at NMSU, Odukare had 15 games in which he scored in double figures, including 18 points on 10-of-14 free throws, leading to rival New Mexico and former Gophers coach Richard Pitino. He recorded 7 rebounds in the game. In two seasons at Pitt, Odukare had five games in which he scored at least 20 points, including 25 points and six steals against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament and 28 points against Miami to conclude his 2021 freshman season. was noticeable.
Williams, a 6-2 transfer from the Wisconsin Wildrose, made a name for himself by scoring 41 points against the Gophers in an exhibition game in November. He committed to the Gophers after an official visit last week. He averaged 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and shot 36.7 percent from 3-point range in 80 career games, including starting every game.
Last season, Williams, McAlester's leading scorer and All-MIAC player, averaged 20 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 25 games. The Gophers defeated McAlester 97-73 in exhibition play last season, and Williams hit 14-of-31 from the field, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range in 36 minutes, reaching the 40-point mark. broke through.
The Gophers added Williams and Odukare to a backcourt that includes returning starter Mike Mitchell Jr. and Oregon State transfer Brennan Rigsby, who signed last week. His four-star recruit Isaac Asuma from Cherry will be a freshman. The fourth spring signee was Canisius big man Frank Mitchell, who ranks fourth in the country in rebounding.
schedule memo
The Big Ten has announced its opponents for the men's basketball season, with four new schools joining. The Gophers' home and away opponents are Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Penn State. Home-only opponents are Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois and Ohio State. Road-only opponents are UCLA, USC, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Iowa, and Rutgers.