One foundational block in Niko Medved’s rebuild of the Gophers men’s basketball roster has proven to be rock solid all season, and especially strong the past two weeks.
Junior transfer Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who followed Medved from Colorado State last spring, has scored at least 20 points in the last three games while corralling eight rebounds in each. These are upticks from his season averages of 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds a game.
The San Antonio native will likely need to produce another huge game if the Gophers (10-9, 3-5 Big Ten) are to pull off an upset of No. 7 Nebraska (19-0, 8-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williams Arena.
Crocker-Johnson is also performing under a stress test. Due to injuries, the 6-foot-9 forward has been called on to play out of position at center. That makes his production, including a career-high 26 points in the 82-74 loss to Ohio State on Tuesday, even more impressive.
Crocker-Johnson’s overall game has improved in the climb from a low-major program, Arkansas-Little Rock, in his freshman year to mid-major Colorado State as a sophomore a year ago and into the daunting Big Ten this winter. The speed of the game has slowed down, and he’s finding ways to prod for success.
“He played that (center) spot for us at Colorado State, but not as much as he’s playing it here,” Medved said Thursday. “ He’s realizing and building confidence in himself that, ‘Hey, even in the Big Ten, I can still do the things that I was able to do that allowed me to be successful in the Mountain West.’ … He’s understanding how people are guarding him, and he’s really, really taking advantage.”
In the 77-67 loss to Illinois last Saturday, he made a career-high five 3-pointers in 22-point outing. But when those treys weren’t falling (1 for 7) versus the Buckeyes, he drove to the basket with huge success (10 for 12).
“I’m just letting the game come to me, trying to find a rhythm early with us, getting to the basket or shooting a 3,” Croker-Johnson said.
Despite Crocker-Johnson’s load, the Gophers have lost four straight games, and off the court, he’s trying to lead his team out of the skid.
“Definitely just trying to communicate with all the guys, sending texts out, making sure everybody’s head space is right,” he said. “We’ve battled some tough adversity lately so, I mean, definitely just trying to make sure we stay together. We’ve still got (12) games left.”
Medved and Crocker-Johnson have formed a deep bond over the past two years. That relationship could come in handy when the U attempts to keep Crocker-Johnson in maroon and gold for his senior season in 2026-27.
“He’s about all the right things,” Medved said. “He’s humble, he’s tough, he competes. You know exactly what you’re going to get every day in practice and in the games. … He’s not some high-maintenance guy at all. He just comes to work every day. And I love seeing people like that be successful. So, he’s just really a great guy.”
Crocker-Johnson appreciates Medved pushing him.
“He definitely is challenging me to be better off the court, on the court, as a leader,” he said. “So, definitely just want someone to push me around, make sure I’m on my toes.”
As they have moved from Fort Collins, Colo., to Minneapolis, Medved’s wife and two daughters have gotten to know “Crock” and his family.
“My kids love him, wife does, so that’s another reason we’re really fortunate to have him,” Medved said. “So thankful that he came with us.”
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