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Former Gophers forward Josh Ola-Joseph commits to Cal

Ola-Joseph played 29 games for Minnesota last season.
Nolan O'Hara|
Minnesota forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (1) boxes out Purdue forward Mason Gillis (0) during the NCAA men's basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 84-76.
Minnesota forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (1) boxes out Purdue forward Mason Gillis (0) during the NCAA men's basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 84-76. | Alex Martin / Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Gophers men’s basketball forward Josh Ola-Joseph has committed to Cal, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. Ola-Joseph retweeted Tipton’s post with blue and yellow hearts and a bear emoji — Cal’s colors and mascot. 

Ola-Joseph entered the NCAA transfer portal after the Gophers bowed out of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Ola-Joseph started 19 games for the U last season, averaging 7.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. But he mostly fell out of the rotation as the season went on.

During the Gophers’ NIT run, Ola-Joseph played just three minutes in a win over Butler and didn’t see the court in a loss to Indiana State. Ola-Joseph also didn’t play in the Gophers’ lone appearance in the Big Ten Tournament, a 10-point loss to Michigan State. 

But Ola-Joseph was just a sophomore last season and will bring a lot of experience with him to Cal. He played in 29 games this season and all 31 games during his freshman season in 2022-23, where he started 24 games. He averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game that season. 

Ola-Joseph also scored a career-high-matching 17 points in a win over Florida Gulf Coast back on Dec. 9. He’s posted 24 double-digit scoring outings during his two years at the U. 

Now he’ll get another chance with the Golden Bears. 

Published
Nolan O'Hara
NOLAN O'HARA

Nolan O'Hara covers all things Minnesota sports, primarily the Timberwolves, for Bring Me The News and Sports Illustrated's On SI network. He previously worked as a copy editor at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism. His work has appeared in the Pioneer Press, Ratchet & Wrench magazine, the Minnesota Daily and a number of local newspapers in Minnesota, among other publications.