Gophers land top-150 recruit Parker Jefferson

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have landed a top 150 recruit in Parker Jefferson, as the big man announced he's committing to the program on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Inglewood, Cali. announced his commitment to the Golden Gophers over the University of Southern California via an Instagram live on Tipton Edits.

247Sports, Rivals and On3 rate Jefferson as a three-star recruit and ESPN ranks him as a four-star prospect.

Jefferson said via the Instagram Live that he was informed by Minnesota that he could "come in and have an impact as a freshman."

"Minnesota made me feel so wanted in less than a month," he said. "Just the feeling I got ever since I stepped on campus. It was a genuine vibe."

Minnesota's key big men — Dawson Garcia, Parker Fox, and Trey Edmonds — are all out of eligibility next season, opening the door for someone like Jefferson to step in and assume major minutes on the floor for a soon-to-be depleted Gophers team in 2025.

Jefferson is a stretch big who can score from all levels on the court.

The California-native is the third commitment for the 2025 class. He joins Kai Shinholster and Jacob Ross, who committed earlier this year.

Shinholster, of Philadelphia, is a 6-foot-5 guard and Ross, of Santa Clarita, Calif., is a 6-foot-5 small forward. Both players have officially signed with the Gophers as of Thursday.