Staff Directory 6370596

Marcus Fuller

Reporter | Gophers basketball

Marcus Fuller covers Gophers men's basketball, national college basketball, college sports and high school recruiting for the Minnesota Star Tribune.


Fuller joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2016 after 11 years covering Gophers sports – and just about every other team and league in town -- for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Before making the Twin Cities his home, he spent two years in The Kansas City Star sports department. Fuller grew up in Hawaii and is a 2002 graduate of San Jose State.
Recent content from Marcus Fuller
Orono guard Nolan Groves (5) will join a Texas Tech program that advanced to the Elite Eight this past month.

Orono's Groves will play basketball at Texas Tech

The state's leading scorer at 34.2 points per game this season backed out of his previous commitment to Yale and had an offer from the Gophers.
New Gophers transfer guards, clockwise from upper left: Northern Colorado’s Langston Reynolds, Davidson’s Bobby Durkin, Western Michigan’s Chans

Backcourt additions help Gophers transfer class soar in the rankings under Medved

New Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved has used the transfer portal to add potential impact players such as Langston Reynolds and Chansey Willis Jr.
Nolan Groves (5) led Orono to the Class 3A state semifinals this past season. The Spartans lost to Mankato East in the semifinals but finished third i

Niko Medved wants Orono guard Nolan Groves for his first Gophers recruiting class

Groves, who led Orono to the state tournament semifinals this past season, recently decommitted from Yale and has since received offers from the Gophers, Wisconsin and Texas Tech.
Chansey Willis Jr. averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game last season for Western Michigan.

Western Michigan transfer Chansey Willis Jr. commits to Gophers, adding guard depth

The Gophers men's basketball team continues to add new pieces, the latest being Chansey Willis Jr. from Western Michigan.
Northern Colorado guard Langston Reynolds averaged 16.0 points per game last season.

U men's basketball team adds transfer from Northern Colorado

Langston Reynolds was named first-team All-Big Sky after averaging 16.0 points per game while shooting 40.9% from three-point range.
St. Thomas men's basketball coach Johnny Tauer has more to offer now, as he reassembles his roster.

Tommies, Gophers navigate men's basketball transfer portal with NIL and revenue sharing in mind

Even after St. Thomas' top two scorers transferred for more NIL money, coach Johnny Tauer has been embracing college recruiting changes, much like the Gophers.
Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved's contract stipulates that his assistant coach salary pool — for five assistants and four other full-time

Gophers assistant Gates, from Oklahoma, is highest-paid men's basketball assistant coach

Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved's top four assistants are paid more than the previous staff under Ben Johnson.
Robert Vaihola (22), who is transferring to Minnesota, takes a shot for San Jose State against Utah State on Jan. 7.

Gophers men's basketball lands San Jose State transfer Robert Vaihola

Robert Vaihola, who averaged 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season for San Jose State, signed with the Gophers.
Former Michigan State and Cretin-Derham Hall guard Tre Holloman transferred to North Carolina State.

Gophers men's basketball transfer portal watch: Who's going where for 2025-26?

Future Gophers and other Minnesota natives are using the transfer portal. Follow the action here.
Davidson's Bobby Durkin, center, averaged 13.5 points per game last season.

U men's basketball lands commitment from Davidson transfer Durkin

The Gophers get a transfer from Davidson, in Bobby Durkin, who 13.5 points while shooting 35.5% from three-point range and 85% from the foul line this season.
Gophers men's basketball student manager Drew Evenson, left, has been an inspiration for the team.

Gophers student managers compete at Final Four, draw inspiration from Medved

In the student manager bracket, the Gophers reached Friday's Final Four semifinal against Louisville.
Niko Medved, shown during his introductory news conference as Gophers men's basketball coach on March 25 at the Athletes Village.

Regents approve Medved's Gophers contract, $2.56 million buyout for Colorado State

The Board of Regents held a special meeting Friday and approved the contract for new men's basketball coach Niko Medved.
New Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved is finalizing his assistant coaching staff.

Oklahoma assistant joins Niko Medved's Gophers basketball coaching staff

Niko Medved's Gophers coaching staff will include Dave Thorson, Brian Cooley and former Oklahoma assistant Armon Gates.
Williams Arena has been the home of Gophers basketball since 1928.

Gophers working to sell naming rights for historic Williams Arena

With the Gophers searching for new revenue streams amid major changes in college sports, they are working to rename their basketball home since 1928.
BJ Omot averaged 10.8 points in four games for California this season. (Cal Athletics photo)

Former Mankato East star Omot signs with Gophers out of the transfer portal

A Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist when he was at Mankato East, BJ Omot averaged 10.8 points per game this season for the Cal Golden Bears.
Kai Shinholster is sticking with the Gophers under new coach Niko Medved. (Photo courtesy Gophers athletics)

Gophers men's basketball recruit Shinholster announces he's sticking with Minnesota

Philadelphia native Kai Shinholster signed with the Gophers under previous coach Ben Johnson and remains committed under Niko Medved.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) reaches for a loose ball against Maryland's Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) during the NCAA tournament on March 23in Seattle.

Gophers land first commitment under Medved with Colorado State transfer

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, a 6-8 forward who started for Niko Medved's Rams, will transfer to the Gophers.
Hopkins guard Anthony Hopkins III.

Hopkins basketball standout Anthony Smith III commits to North Dakota

Smith ended his high school career as the second-leading scorer in Hopkins history with 1,958 points.
Wayzata's Christian Wiggins scores two of his 31 points to lift the Trojans over Hopkins for the Class 4A, Section 6 championship on March 11 in Minne

Medved's first in-state Gophers basketball scholarship offer goes to Wayzata's Wiggins

Wayzata junior star Christian Wiggins hadn't received an offer under the Gophers' previous coaching regime, despite his rising recruiting profile.
Parker Jefferson is a four-star recruit from Inglewood, Calif., who reopened his recruitment Saturday.  (Photo courtesy Parker Jefferson)

Top Gophers men's basketball signee Jefferson reopens his recruitment

Four-star men's basketball recruit Parker Jefferson asked to be released from the letter of intent he signed with the Gophers.
Niko Medved waits to speak at his introductory news conference on Tuesday at the Athletes Village on the University of Minnesota campus.

How Medved went from Gophers student manager to master DI program rebuilder

Niko Medved has turned around three programs — Furman, Drake and Colorado State. His coaching journey also includes 16 years worth of lessons as an assistant coach.
Jacob Ross posed in a Gophers uniform when he signed on, but after a coaching change he wants out.

Gophers basketball recruit asks out of signed letter of intent to play next season

Jacob Ross, a three-star 6-6 forward from SoCal Academy, has decided to reopen his recruitment.
Gophers guard Isaac Asuma played a big role this season as a freshman.

Asuma, Grove announce they'll be back with the Gophers next season

New Gophers coach Niko Medved was able to keep freshmen Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove with the program.
Cretin-Derham Hall sophomore Ty Schlagel, left, has a Gophers offer and will continue to be recruited by college coaches.

What are Minnesota's top boys basketball recruits saying about new U coach Medved?

Minnesota native Niko Medved knows the state's recruiting terrain well, and top prospects are eager to hear from him.
Newly hired Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved addresses a large crowd at his introductory news conference Tuesday at the Athletes Village.

Five takeaways from Medved's first news conference as Gophers men's basketball coach

Roseville native and former Gophers men's basketball assistant Niko Medved praised Williams Arena and sounded open to playing St. Thomas.
Director of Athletics Mark Coyle and new Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved pose for a picture Tuesday at Medved’s introductory news confe

If Niko Medved gets what he wants, Dave Thorson will be right next to him

During his introductory news conference, Medved said he wants Thorson — who coached alongside him at Drake and Colorado State — to remain on staff with the Gophers.
New Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved led Colorado State to the NCAA tournament three times.

Gophers hire Medved as their new men's basketball coach

Niko Medved, a Minnesota native and Roseville High graduate, is returning to his alma mater after leading Colorado State to the NCAA tournament.
Niko Medved (center) in 2007, his last year as assistant coach for the Gophers men's basketball team.

Who is Niko Medved? A closer look at the new Gophers coach

Before this moment with the Gophers, Niko Medved worked his way through the coaching ranks.
Colorado State men's basketball coach Niko Medved, a target for the Gophers in their search for a new head coach, led the Rams to one victory in the N

Gophers men's basketball coaching search continues as Medved, Colorado State fall on buzzer-beater in NCAA second round

Coach Niko Medved and the Rams were ousted from the tournament on a last-second shot by Maryland on Sunday.
Colorado State coach Niko Medved reacts during the first half against Memphis in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament on Friday i

Niko Medved watch continues, as Colorado State beats Memphis in NCAA tourney

With the Gophers and West Virginia waiting to hire new head coaches, Niko Medved advanced with his Colorado State team to the NCAA tourney second round.
Champlin Park's Tyler Wagner.

One of Minnesota's best high school basketball players picks next destination

Champlin Park senior guard Tyler Wagner committed to Austin Peay on Wednesday, picking the Governors over five other Division I programs.
Gophers forward Frank Mitchell is fouled during a Feb. 25 game against Northwestern.

Gophers basketball big man Frank Mitchell enters transfer portal

The junior turned in three double-doubles late in the season and was a key figure in the upset at USC.
New University of Minnesota mens' head basketball coach Ben Johnson, right, receives his own number from athletic director Mark Coyle following a pres

Gophers are hiring while Big Ten men's basketball has zero Black head coaches again

Minnesota has a history of hiring Black basketball coaches — from Clem Haskins to Tubby Smith to Ben Johnson — but there are none currently in the Big Ten.
Niko Medved has Colorado State as a No. 12 seed, facing No. 5-seed Memphis on Friday.

As Gophers wait, Colorado State AD aims to keep Niko Medved

Colorado State men's basketball coach Niko Medved is the favorite to become the Gophers' next coach, but the Rams have him under contract through 2030-31.
From left to right, top to bottom: Michigan State's Tre Holloman, Iowa State's Curtis Jones, Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley, Memphis' Dain Dainja and Wis

Holloman, Jones, Dainja and other Minnesotans to watch in the NCAA men's tournament

Nolan Winter, J'Vonne Hadley and Will Tschetter are among the other Minnesota natives who could be impact players in this year's tournament.
Marcus Fuller picks the NCAA men's basketball bracket, with 10 story lines to watch

Marcus Fuller picks the NCAA men's basketball bracket, with 10 story lines to watch

Injuries could have a big effect on this year's men's tournament, complicating the bracket picks.
Cretin-Derham Hall's Tommy Ahneman (32) and Ty Schlagel (23) celebrate after the Raiders beat Alexandria 77-71 in a Breakdown Tip Off Classic game in

Dandy Dozen: 12 players to watch at the boys basketball state tournament

The list of talented players represents individuals most likely to shine in the 2025 state tournament.
Colorado State coach Niko Medved cheers during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Washington, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023,

U coaching hire expected soon with Colorado State's Medved the favorite

Niko Medved could be the next Gophers men's basketball coach after making his third NCAA tournament in four seasons with Colorado State.
Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck shook hands with University of Minnesota Athletic Director Mark Coyle following his team's 40-17 win against Illinois, b

Analysis: Can the next Gophers men's basketball coach sell himself to Minnesotans like Fleck?

As Colorado State's Niko Medved emerges as the favorite, it's clear in-state salesmanship will be key for athletic director Mark Coyle's hire.
Ben Johnson watches as players exit the court after a loss to Northwestern in February.

Five early takeaways in the search process for the next Gophers men's basketball coach

A study of comments by athletic director Mark Coyle since he fired Ben Johnson indicates the U's potential approach.
Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson made progress last season, but key players entering the transfer portal set him and his team back.

Gophers fire Johnson as men's basketball coach after four seasons

Johnson's record was 56-71 overall and 22-57 in Big Ten play, which included finishing 13th or lower in the conference three times.
Colorado State coach Niko Medved, a Roseville native and former Gophers assistant, is a potential candidate to coach the Gophers.

Potential candidates to become next Gophers men's basketball coach

Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle has options to explore, including some Minnesota natives, as he works to replace Ben Johnson.
Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle spoke to the media shortly after the announcement of a 7-year contract extension for football head coach P.J. Fle

Gophers athletic director Coyle says Johnson's firing came down to consistency over four years

"We would get some big wins and then we would have some tough losses," Minnesota AD Mark Coyle said hours after firing men's basketball coach Ben Johnson.
 Gophers forward Frank Mitchell goes strong to the rim Wednesday against Northwestern.

Gophers men's basketball team now waits to see which players make it back

Frank Mitchell, Isaac Asuma and Brennan Rigsby were names that came up in the postgame conversation about next season.
Gophers guard Femi Odukale drives on Northwestern center Matthew Nicholson during the second half in the teams' Big Ten tournament opener in Indianapo

Gophers flop against Northwestern in Big Ten men's basketball tournament

Coach Ben Johnson remained optimistic about his job, but Minnesota likely won't play again this season.
Ben Johnson is 56-70 in four seasons as Gophers men's basketball coach.

Johnson's Gophers reach Big Ten tournament after a season of emotional swings

Minnesota, which earned the No. 12 seed, faces 13th-seeded Northwestern on Wednesday in the Big Ten men's basketball tournament opener.
Gophers guard Lu'Cye Patterson looks to pass the ball around Rutgers guard Dylan Harper on Sunday in Piscataway, N.J.

U men's basketball seeded 12th in Big Ten tournament, ends regular season with OT loss at Rutgers

The Gophers' road winning streak came to an end, but their season will continue Wednesday in Indianapolis against Northwestern.
Gophers guard Isaac Asuma, left, fights for control of the ball with Nebraska's Rollie Worster during last Saturday's victory in Lincoln, Neb.

Gophers' five Big Ten road wins and Quad 1 success belie their other struggles

The Gophers went 2-8 in Big Ten home games, but they've been one of the conference's top road teams, entering Sunday's game at Rutgers.
Gophers guard Brennan Rigsby celebrates with the sellout crowd at Williams Arena after scoring against Wisconsin in the second half of Wednesday's los

Gophers' loss to Wisconsin caps frustrating season at Williams Arena

Minnesota's 2-8 Big Ten home record was unexpected coming off a 2023-24 season when the Gophers were hard to beat at the Barn.
The Minnesota bench is dejected late in the second half against Wisconsin. The Gophers lost 74-67.

Gophers men's basketball team tries but fails to add a home highlight against Wisconsin

Minnesota has had two victories over ranked teams at Williams Arena this season. The No. 12 Badgers didn't let it happen again.
Gophers senior Dawson Garcia leaps for a dunk against Oregon on Jan. 25 at Williams Arena.

Garcia and other Gophers seniors came back. Could it happen again next season?

Gophers seniors will be honored Wednesday before the Wisconsin game, but some of them might be back.
St. Thomas freshman Nolan Minessale (4) dunks against North Dakota State in a 79-62 Tommies victory at Schoenecker Arena on Feb. 2.

Basketball Across Minnesota: High school recruiting still key to St. Thomas men's basketball success

While other programs are focused primarily on the transfer portal, Tommies coach Johnny Tauer has been successful with an old-fashioned approach.
Brennan Rigsby celebrates with Femi Odukale after the Gophers beat Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Four things learned from the Minnesota Gophers men's basketball victory at Nebraska

Brennan Rigsby's career day and game-winner Saturday are among the takeaways from the program's first win at Nebraska's Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Brennan Rigsby celebrates as the hero of the Gophers' victory Saturday at Nebraska.

Gophers sink Huskers in men's basketball on Rigsby's three-pointer in final seconds

Minnesota lost a 19-point second-half lead, but that final shot kept the team's road winning streak alive.
Gophers coach Ben Johnson instructs his players during the second half of Tuesday's 75-63 loss to Northwestern at Williams Arena.

An uncertain future, yet hope for Gophers coach Johnson, who foresees more resources

Gophers coach Ben Johnson says soon-to-come revenue share payments for players will create a new picture, but the key is raising NIL money, too.
Gophers coach Ben Johnson, right, wore a frustrated look late in Tuesday's 75-63 loss to Northwestern at Williams Arena.

Analysis: Four things learned from the Gophers' deflating loss to Northwestern

A slow start and a struggling backcourt contributed to the Gophers men's basketball team's costly loss at Williams Arena on Tuesday.
Tartan boys basketball coach Mark Klingsporn has reached the 700-win milestone.

Basketball Across Minnesota: Tartan's winning tradition inspires Kimmons, former Gophers player Mbakwe

Tartan AD Trevor Mbakwe and former star Antwan Kimmons benefit from the winning culture built by longtime Titans coach Mark Klingsporn.
Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) and  guard Femi Odukale battle for a rebound in the first half Tuesday.

Gophers men's basketball team plunges further with home loss to Northwestern

That makes back-to-back losses to Big Ten bottom-feeders, complicating the U's efforts to qualify for the postseason tournament.
Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson led the team back from an 0-6 Big Ten start, but losses to Wisconsin and Penn State have hurt.

Better to be underdogs? The Gophers feel the pressure when favored

Trying to stay in the Big Ten's top 15, Ben Johnson's Gophers need to play better against teams below them in the standings.
The Gophers' Frank Mitchell goes high for a tip during Saturday's game.

Gophers men's basketball team squanders enthusiasm with home loss to Penn State

Minnesota drew a fired-up crowd to Williams Arena after upsets of USC and UCLA, then lost to the Big Ten's last-place team.
Gophers senior Dawson Garcia (3) dunks during the final moments of the team's upset of Oregon on Jan. 25 at Williams Arena.

Turnaround has Gophers aiming higher than just making the Big Ten tournament

Minnesota is tied for 11th in the 18-team conference entering Saturday's game vs. Penn State. The top 15 teams make it, and the top nine get a first-round bye.
The Gophers' Dawson Garcia plays the game near the rim Tuesday against UCLA, when he scored 32 points.

Powered by Garcia, Gophers men's basketball team pulls off huge comeback at UCLA

Minnesota trailed by 17 points in the first half before their star led a rally with a 27-point second half.
Jackson County Central’s Rylie Cother, left, and Champlin Park's Tyler Wagner have both hit the 60-point mark in a game this season. (Photos from Da

What's it like to score 60 points in one high school game? Two more Minnesotans can explain.

Basketball Across Minnesota: Champlin Park's Tyler Wagner and Jackson County Central's Rylie Cother each had a 60-point game one week apart.
Gophers guard Lu'Cye Patterson celebrates after a made three-pointer against Ohio State on Jan. 6 at Williams Arena.

Gophers senior Patterson emerges as a go-to player after making a leap to the Big Ten

Minneapolis native Lu'Cye Patterson has helped lead the Gophers after starting his college career at Missouri State and Charlotte.
Gophers coach Ben Johnson has guided the team to a 13-12 record this season.

U men's basketball recruits excited watching comeback victory over USC

After an 0-6 start to Big Ten play this season, the Gophers have won five of their past eight games and recruits are noticing.
The Gophers' Lu'Cye Patterson attacks the basket against Southern California's Desmond Claude on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Gophers push back in L.A. for victory over USC in men's basketball

Minnesota trailed nearly the entire game, at times by double digits, before scoring the last eight points in the final 1:13.
Eric Musselman is in his first season as USC's coach after successful stints at Nevada and Arkansas.

Gophers reunion: USC's Musselman faces his dad's former program for the first time

Bill Musselman coached the Gophers to the 1972 Big Ten men's basketball title, and now his son, Eric, takes on Minnesota for USC.
Southwest Minnesota State senior guard Bri Stoltzman averaged 23.4 points over a 14-game span.

Basketball Across Minnesota: Minnesota State Mankato isn't the only local Division II women's basketball power

Concordia (St. Paul) and Southwest Minnesota State are challenging the Mavericks.
Illinois forward Ben Humrichous blocks a shot by Gophers guard Lu'Cye Patterson in the first half Saturday.

Gophers men's basketball team crashes hard at home against No. 23 Illinois

Minnesota held a lead for the first six minutes, but the Illini controlled matters after that and won 95-74.
Gophers players celebrated with fans who stormed the court at Williams Arena after the team's upset of then-No. 15 Oregon on Jan. 25.

Gophers prove Williams Arena can still be electrifying for big, underdog moments

Coach Ben Johnson has seen crowds at the Barn turn into difference makers, and the Gophers could use that again Saturday vs. No. 23 Illinois.
Michigan's Olivia Olson, left, and Florida's Liv McGill, far right, are two more national stars from Minnesota.

Olivia Olson and Liv McGill are latest former Minnesota prep basketball stars making waves nationally

Basketball Across Minnesota: Michigan's Olivia Olson and Florida's Liv McGill are the latest to emerge from this national basketball hot spot.
Brennan Rigsby delivered a key performance in Tuesday's victory at Penn State.

Four things learned from the Gophers' comeback win at Penn State

Gophers reserve Brennan Rigsby's best Big Ten scoring game and lockdown team defense made the difference.
Gophers guard Brennan Rigsby scored 14 points off the bench, making all five of his shots from the field, in Minnesota's 69-61 victory over Penn State

Gophers overcome slow start behind Garcia, Rigsby to rally past Penn State

Dawson Garcia had 19 points and a season-high 14 rebounds and Brennan Rigsby contributed 14 points off the bench to the 69-61 comeback victory.
Gophers guard Femi Odukale (11) works for two of his 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting in Saturday's loss to Washington.

Coach searches for better backcourt play for Gophers men's basketball team

Gophers coach Ben Johnson needs Femi Odukale and Isaac Asuma in attack mode Tuesday at Penn State to help end the shooting woes for Mike Mitchell Jr., and Lu'Cye Patterson.
Gophers forward Dawson Garcia and Washington forward Great Osobor scramble for a loose ball in the second half Saturday.

Four things learned from Gophers men's basketball team's frustrating home loss to Washington

Dawson Garcia scored 28 points, but Washington outplayed the Gophers backcourt and exploited a re-emerging rebounding issue.