Central Arkansas transfer Nehemiah Turner was among the last portal additions for Minnesota. Standing 6-foot-10 and with three years of eligibility left, he’s arguably one of the Gophers’ most intriguing offseason additions.
- 2024-25 stats: 8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG
- Previous school: Central Arkansas (ASUN)
- Height: 6-foot-10
- Years of eligibility remaining: 3
Originally from Auburndale, Florida, Turner flew under the radar as a high school prospect before making his way to Central Arkansas. After a quiet start to his college career, he emerged as one of the top freshmen in the ASUN last season, averaging 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks over his final 10 games.
Turner saved his best for the conference tournament, erupting for a season-high 37 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 13-of-15 shooting performance against Stetson. He followed that up with 14 points in a tough matchup against eventual ASUN champion Lipscomb.
Historical Gophers comparison: (raw) Daniel Oturu
Comparing anyone to 2019-20 Daniel Oturu — one of the best Gophers of the past two decades — might seem like a stretch, but hear me out. Like Oturu, Nehemiah Turner is an old-school big who thrives in the paint. He’s not an explosive athlete, but he’s smart, especially on the defensive end, and knows how to position himself.
That said, I don’t expect Turner to come in and immediately perform at an All-Big Ten level like Oturu did. Making the leap from the ASUN — one of the least competitive leagues in the country — to the Big Ten, which is among the most talented, is a major challenge. It’s going to take time.
Turner could start the season behind Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Robert Vaihola in the frontcourt rotation, but he’s too physically gifted to stay on the bench for long. At 6-foot-10, he’s the most physically imposing big on Minnesota’s roster, and I’m buying all the long-term stock I can get before he hits the floor.
If the Gophers manage to outperform expectations and push toward the middle of the Big Ten standings this season, Turner playing up to his potential will likely be a big reason why. With three years of eligibility ahead of him, I’m excited to see how his game develops in maroon and gold.
Sources: SI.com
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