Niko Medved and the Gophers men’s basketball squad have made their third successful move in the transfer portal, securing a commitment from Davidson’s wing Bobby Durkin, as announced by the team on Monday afternoon.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and hailing from Illinois, Durkin posted averages of 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game during his sophomore year with the Wildcats. He started in 32 of 33 contests, with a field goal percentage of 41%, a 3-point shooting rate of 36%, and an 85% success rate from the free-throw line.
“Bobby is an exceptional shooter with impressive size and reach,” Medved remarked. “He’s a multifaceted athlete who can open up the floor and possesses sharp court awareness. Beyond that, his defensive skills and rebounding prowess really shine. We’re thrilled to welcome Bobby to the Golden Gophers.”
Durkin teams up with Colorado State’s Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Cal’s B.J. Omot as transfers to Minnesota since Niko Medved took the helm. All three are adaptable wings, standing between 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8, capable of scoring, defending, and shooting 35-36% from beyond the arc. They’re poised to be pivotal players next season as Medved begins his tenure as the Gophers’ head coach.
Durkin’s journey took him from Glenbard West High School in the Chicago suburbs to a season at IMG Academy in Florida. In 2023, he picked Davidson over offers from Georgia Tech, Army, and Wright State. As a freshman, he averaged 8.5 points per game before making a significant jump in his sophomore year. Now, he’s Big Ten-bound with two years of eligibility left.
Last season, Durkin launched nearly eight 3-pointers per game. While his accuracy at Davidson wasn’t elite, his fluid shooting form and knack for heating up stand out. He shot over 43% from deep in the first 18 games before cooling off to just over 25% in the final 15. He drained six 3s in a single game on three occasions, including a career-best 28-point outburst against Rhode Island in January.
Alongside Durkin, Omot, and Crocker-Johnson, the Gophers roster includes returning players Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove, plus incoming freshman Kai Shinholster. That makes six scholarship athletes, leaving up to nine spots open. Medved and his staff still have their work cut out for them, but this latest portal pickup marks another significant coup.
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