Minnesota’s growing reputation as a hotbed for high school hoops will be on full display again during the 2025-26 college season as nearly 200 Minnesota natives will suit up for Division 1 programs, including almost 60 at high major schools. This would have been unheard of as little as 10 years ago. With the season officially kicking off this week, here’s a look at some of the top Minnesotans to watch as well as key freshmen hoping to make their mark at the collegiate level.
Men
Terrence Brown – Utah (Columbia Heights) – one of the great, feel-good stories in college hoops. Undersized and overlooked in high school, without a single Division 1 offer, Brown kept the faith and played one year at Golden State Prep before earning a scholarship to Farleigh Dickinson University (FDU). He had an outstanding career at FDU, including this past year when he finished in the top 10 nationally in scoring, earned 1st team All-NEC honors and was named the league’s Most Improved Player. Has transferred to Utah and should be a primary scoring option for the Utes.
Pharrel Payne – Maryland (Park of Cottage Grove) – former Gopher standout is back in the Big Ten after spending last season at Texas A&M. He averaged 10.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg for the Aggies and elevated his game in the postseason when he averaged 25.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg in two NCAA tournament games. This could be a sign of things to come for the newest Terrapin.
Jackson McAndrew – Creighton (Wayzata) – named to the All-Freshman Team in the Big East last season after setting a Creighton freshman record for 3-pointers made in a season with 69. This sweet-shooting big man was named to the preseason All-Big East Third Team and is poised for a breakout year that could see him shooting (no pun intended) up NBA draft boards.
Tre Holloman – North Carolina State (Cretin-Derham Hall) – after averaging 9.1 ppg and 3.7 apg and serving as a co-captain for Michigan State last season, Holloman has transferred to NC State for his senior year.
Nolan Winter – Wisconsin (Lakeville North) – averaged 9.5 ppg and a team best 5.8 rpg for the Badgers last season. With the departure of fellow Minnesotan, Steven Crowl, look for Winter to have an expanded role this winter (again no pun intended). He is the latest in a long line of Wisconsin “bigs” who can spread the floor with their outstanding perimeter shooting.
J’Vonne Hadley – Louisville (Cretin-Derham Hall) – in his 6th season of college basketball, brings a wealth of experience to the Cardinals. The 6’7 wing averaged 12.2 ppg and a team high 7.3 rpg last season and was named to the preseason All-ACC Honorable Mention list.
Cameron Carr – Baylor (Link Academy – Eden Prairie) – originally from Eden Prairie but played his high school basketball at Link Academy in Missouri. His high school team won the Geico Nationals and was ranked the #1 team in the country by ESPN. The former 4-star recruit spent 2 seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Baylor. He is off to a great start, averaging 19 ppg in the Bears two exhibition contests.
Camden Heide– Texas (Wasatch Academy – Wayzata) – helped lead Wayzata to a state championship as a junior then transferred to Wasatch Academy in Utah to complete his high school career. Spent 3 seasons at Purdue where he was a part-time starter who was an athletic defender and reliable outside shooter.
Isaac Asuma – Minnesota (Cherry) – one of just 2 returning players for the Gophers. Will be asked to shoulder a much bigger burden this year. He could very easily double his totals from his freshman season of 5.6 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
Isaiah Johnson-Arigu – St. Thomas (Totino-Grace) – former 4-star recruit who had brief stops at the University of Miami and the University of Iowa before returning home to join the Tommies. Look for a breakout season for Johnson-Arigu. He’s an athletic, 6’7 wing who could provide St. Thomas with the edge they need to secure the school’s first NCAA tournament berth at the D1 level.
Freshmen – 5 to Keep an Eye On
Chase Thompson – Clemson (Alexandria)
Nolan Groves – Texas Tech (Orono)
Tyler Wagner – Austin Peay (Champlin Park)
Jalen Wilson – Northern Iowa (Benilde-St. Margaret’s)
Marley Curtis – UND (St. Louis Park)
Women
Sunaja “Nunu” Agara – Stanford (Hopkins) – named to the preseason All-ACC Team after earning 2nd team all-conference honors last year when she led the Cardinal in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.6). Is one of just 50 players (including 2 others from Minnesota… read on) to be named to the preseason watch list for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award. Has also been named to the preseason watch list for the Katrina McClain Award that recognizes the top power forward in the country.
Kierra Wheeler – West Virginia (Robbinsdale Cooper) – after an outstanding career at Norfolk State, Wheeler will spend her graduate season with the Mountaineers. Last season she averaged 15.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 2.3 blocks per game, which ranked 9th in the country. She was All-MEAC 1st team and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the MEAC Conference Tournament.
Olivia Olson – Michigan (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) – named to the preseason All-Big Ten team after a brilliant freshman season for the Wolverines. Set a Michigan freshman scoring record while earning 2nd team All-Big Ten honors and being named the Co-Freshman of the Year in the conference. Olson is on the preseason watch list for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award as well as the Cheryl Miller Award that recognizes the nation’s best small forward. There is little doubt that she will earn All-American honors before her college career is over.
Amaya Battle – Minnesota (Hopkins) – a 3-year starter who surpassed the 1,000-point mark last season while earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Was also named to the WBIT All-Tournament team following the Gophers championship run. Entering her senior season, she is just 154 assists shy of becoming Minnesota’s career leader in that category.
Mara Braun – Minnesota (Wayzata) – a dynamic shooting guard who missed much of last season due to injury. Led the Gophers in scoring her first 2 seasons and her career average of 16.5 ppg ranks 9th in school history. Let’s hope she stays healthy because her scoring ability can help propel the Gophers to the upper echelon of the Big Ten and into the NCAA tournament.
Tori McKinney – Minnesota (Minnetonka) – had an outstanding freshman season for the Gophers that culminated with her being named the MVP of the WBIT post season tournament that the Gophers won. Averaged 10.6 ppg and shot an amazing 89% from the free throw line during the season.
Gianna Kneepkens – UCLA (Duluth Marshall) – could be the missing piece that puts UCLA over the top to win a national championship. The Bruins are ranked as high as #2 in one preseason poll. Kneepkens earned 1st team All-Big 12 honors in her final season at Utah. She is one of the nation’s elite shooters and last season nearly joined the exclusive 40/50/90 club when she shot 50.4% from the floor, 44.8% from 3, and 89% from the line. Kneepkens is on the preseason watch list for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award as well as the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award that recognizes the top shooting guard in the country. She is projected to be a first round pick in next year’s WNBA draft. UCLA and Kneepkens play the Gophers at Williams Arena on Wednesday, January 14 – get your tickets now!
Liv McGill – Florida (Hopkins) – electric point guard who was named to the 12-player, USA Women’s Basketball Under-19 team that won gold this past summer but, unfortunately, had to withdraw prior to the competition for personal reasons (ironically, she was replaced by another Minnesotan, Providence Academy standout, Maddyn Greenway). Averaged 16.4 ppg and 5.1 apg to earn All-Freshman Team honors in the SEC last season. Another player that is clearly on an All-American trajectory.
Tessa Johnson – South Carolina (STMA) – will never put up eye-popping numbers because that’s not the South Carolina way – Dawn Staley’s culture is all about winning and not individual stats. And Johnson has done plenty of winning in her two seasons in Columbia, including a national championship as a freshman, where she played a starring role in the title game, and a Final 4 appearance last season. She is the Gamecocks best perimeter shooter and averaged 8.4 ppg last year. That total would surely double if she played for virtually any other program in the country.
Avery Koenen – NDSU (Montevideo) – 6’2 post player who is one of just 25 players to be named to the preseason watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. Earned 1st team All-Summit league honors last season after averaging 14.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg.
Freshmen – 5 to Keep an Eye On
Kendall McGee – Creighton (Benilde St. Margaret’s)
Addi Mack – Maryland (Minnehaha)
Jordan Ode – Michigan State (Maple Grove)
Aaliyah Crump – Texas (Montverde Academy – Minnetonka)
Zahara Bishop – Seton Hall (Benilde-St. Margaret’s)
With outstanding talent on the men’s side and 3 National Player of the Year candidates on the women’s side, Minnesotans are ready to leave their mark on college basketball this season. Good luck to all the Minnesotans competing this year and thanks for showing the country that we are more than the State of Hockey.
About the Author
As Hoop Habits’ media contributor, Roger Johnson brings decades of basketball expertise to his articles. Having served as a marketing executive at Wells Fargo & Company and a content writer for Ultimate Hoops, Roger’s true passion has always been basketball. With experience as a collegiate player at Moorhead State University, coach, and parent of successful players, Roger offers unique insights into the game. His dedication shows through his Minnesota Timberwolves season tickets, University of Minnesota basketball support, and attendance at over 3,000 basketball games throughout his lifetime.