Niko Medved Reunites with Former Player as Gophers Land First Transfer Portal Addition
Minnesota head coach Niko Medved made a familiar move for his first transfer portal commitment, bringing in forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, a player he previously coached at Colorado State.
Crocker-Johnson, originally from Warren High School in San Antonio, Texas, was part of the 2023 recruiting class. Though lightly recruited, he had offers from several mid-majors before ultimately signing with Little Rock.
1. Third School in Three Years
The 6’8″ forward will suit up for his third program in as many seasons. After averaging 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman at Little Rock — a performance that earned him OVC Rookie of the Year — he transferred to Colorado State. There, he remained consistent, putting up 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field.
2. A Versatile Shooter
Crocker-Johnson proved to be an efficient shooter both inside and out. He converted over 70% of his shots at the rim and 35.4% from three-point range, making at least one three-pointer in 21 of 36 games last season. He also improved his free-throw shooting to nearly 76% and posted a strong true shooting percentage of 59.9%.
3. Defensive Value
A capable defender, he’s tallied 55 blocks and 27 steals over the past two years. His defensive metrics suggest he’ll be a valuable piece for Minnesota, potentially leading the team in defensive rating and win shares based on last year’s numbers.
4. Solid Rebounder
While not elite, Crocker-Johnson holds his own on the glass, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game in his career. His rebounding rates are consistent, and he could benefit from adding muscle to better handle the physicality of the Big Ten.
5. Proven Durability
Reliability is one of his strengths — he’s played in all 70 games across two seasons and started 62 of them. That type of durability is a major asset for Minnesota heading into a demanding season.
