Gophers Land Wayzata’s Rising Star Nolen Anderson in Recruitment Coup—Could He Be the Game-Changer?

The Gophers men’s basketball program picked up a commitment from Wayzata forward Nolen Anderson on Thursday.

Originally Published: July 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM CDTAnderson’s major offers are from Virginia Tech, Northern Iowa, Drake, Montana and others, but since his improvement with D1 Minnesota, other Big Ten schools have started recruiting him intently.  Those teams include Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan.
The 6-foot-6, three-star wing is considered the third-best recruit in the state of Minnesota in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. The two top recruits are headed elsewhere: Wayzata guard Christian Wiggins (Iowa State) and Fairbault center Ryan Kreager (Loyola-Chicago).
Anderson and Wiggins led Wayzata to the Class 4A stat championship in March, the Trojans were runner-up last year and win it all in 2023.
New U head coach Niko Medved started recruiting Anderson soon after his hiring last spring and offered a scholarship on July 14. Since the U’s initial interest, Anderson has grown in height and his game has developed, including a shooting stroke considered to be at a high-major level.
Landing a commitment from a standout like Nolen Anderson marks a turning point for the Gophers’ men’s basketball squad — a classy forward from Wayzata who’s been catching eyes far beyond Minnesota’s borders. Standing 6-foot-6 and packing a three-star rating, Anderson slots in as the state’s third-most coveted prospect in the 2026 crop, just behind two other top talents who’ve chosen different paths. Coach Niko Medved, fresh off his springtime hire, wasted no time making his pitch, locking down a scholarship offer last July. Since then, Anderson’s game hasn’t just grown — it’s leapt forward, notably his shooting touch, which many now peg at high-major caliber. Together with fellow Wayzata ace Christian Wiggins, Anderson propelled the Trojans back to the Class 4A throne in March, etching his name with a 24-point, 10-rebound showcase in the final. Offers from Virginia Tech and beyond dot his recruitment map, but his Minnesota link has Big Ten suitors like Iowa, Nebraska, and Michigan snapping closer. Minnesota’s already got East Ridge’s Cedric Tomes in the fold, waiting to see who else joins the fray among the state’s finest. Curious to dive deeper? LEARN MORE
The Gophers have a previous commitment in the 2026 class: East Ridge point guard Cedric Tomes, who is considered the sixth best player in the state. The fourth- and fifth-best — Totino-Grace forward  Dothan Ijadimbola and Hopkins guard Jayden Moore — are uncommitted.

In the title game against Cretin-Derham Hall, Anderson had 24 points and 10 rebounds at Williams Arena.