Could a Former Minnesota Mr. Basketball Fill the Gophers’ Transfer Portal Needs?

Former DeLaSalle High School star Nasir Whitlock is the latest Minnesota native to reveal their intentions to enter the transfer portal. Could the Gophers be interested after he led Lehigh to its first NCAA Tournament appearence since 2012?

Whitlock averaged 20.5 points per game this season, which ranked 18th-best in Division I men's basketball. He added 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 46.6% shooting from the field, 43.3% from three-point range and 78.8% from the free-throw line. A highlight game-winner in the Patriot League quarterfinals against Holy Cross was the start of a memorable run that ended with the Patriot League tournament MVP.

Listed at 6-foot-2, Whitlock has improved in three consecutive seasons of college basketball, and he proved himself as one of the top mid-major guards in the country. The reason he becomes a potentially intriguing candidate for the Gophers this offseason is that he's from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Whitlock averaged 26 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game as a senior at DeLaSalle, which earned him Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2023. A lack of size limited his college interest, but he has proven himself in three seasons at Lehigh.

Potential Gophers fit

Minnesota has already announced the return of Isaac Asuma for the 2026-27 season, but they will need to build a backcourt around him. Former Western Michigan transfer Chansey Willis Jr. was set to be that player in 2025-26, but his season was shut down due to a season-ending injury after five games. Kai Shinholster and walk-on Max Lorenson are the only other two potential returners on the roster, while they're set to add East Ridge High School star Cedric Tomes.

The Gophers will need to decide if they want to play with a true point guard alongside Asuma or more of a combo guard. Whitlock averaged a career-high 3.3 assists per game this season, so he might be more comfortable off the ball.

Whether or not Willis gets a medical redshirt and returns for another season will and should impact the Gophers' roster-building strategy. He's more of a polished facilitator with 5.8 assists per game in his last full season. Having Asuma, Willis and Whitlock as your top three options with Shinholster and Tomes wouldn't be the worst scenario, but do the Gophers want more?

The Patriot League to the Big Ten is a big leap in competition, but Whitlock has shown he deserves an opportunity at a higher level. A return to Minnesota doesn't seem out of the realm of possibilities, but the Gophers will need to weigh all of their options.