Report: Former MN prep star Dain Dainja intends to enter transfer portal

Could the Gophers go after one of the top big men in the transfer portal?

Mar 14, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Memphis Tigers forward Dain Dainja (42) drives the basket ahead of Wichita State Shockers center Quincy Ballard (15) during the first half at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, former Park Center High School standout Dain Dainja intends to enter the transfer portal after putting together his best collegiate season in 2024-25 at Memphis.

Memphis forward Dain Dainja intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per his agents @noah_reisenfeld and @Adie_vongontard of Young Money APAA Sports. He earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2024-25 and was the league's newcomer of the year. He averaged 14.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg this… pic.twitter.com/OPHoQ6vYpa

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 17, 2025

Dainja has refuted Thamel's report, claiming he's, "Not going anywhere. No decisions have been made," based on a recent X post.

Not going anywhere. No decisions have been made.

— Dain Dainja (@DDainja) April 17, 2025

Listed at 6-foot-9, Dainja had a career-year for the Tigers, averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 61.5% shooting from the field and a 58.6% mark from the free throw line last season. He had 22 points and 12 rebounds against current Gophers head coach Niko Medved and Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Dainja was a four-star recruit in the 2020 high school recruiting class before originally committing to Baylor. After redshirting his true freshman season in 2020-21, he played in three games in 2021-22. He then transferred to Illinois, where he was a rotational player in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. Based on playing only three games in 2021-22, he will likely have one year of eligibility remaining.

Whether he intends to enter the transfer portal or not, Dainja held an offer from the Gophers coming out of high school, but that was Richard Pitino's coaching staff, so that likely doesn't hold much weight in his potential recruitment. After a breakout year, he is one of the biggest names left in the transfer portal, so he will likely generate some big offers.

It seems unlikely that Minnesota and Medved would pursue the former Park Center star given their recent portal additions, but crazier things have happened in the modern era of college athletics.