Niko Medved, Minnesota hoops land top target in four-star SF Isaiah Santos

Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Niko Medved. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Niko Medved, Minnesota hoops land top target in four-star SF Isaiah Santos

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jul 28, 2026 6:41 PM ET

Word in recruiting circles is that the Minnesota Golden Gophers and head men's basketball coach Niko Medved did everything they could to land the commitment of four-star small forward Isaiah Santos.

Santos, checking in at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, is one of the top small forward recruits in the 2027 class.

He's from Katy, Texas, but the Golden Gophers took all the chances they could get to watch Santos play.

They also had to convince him to play his college ball in Minneapolis, Minn., which is a whole different world compared to southeast Texas.

Ultimately, though, as Ryan James of 247Sports reports it, Medved and the Gophers felt Santos was their top target

Minnesota landed that top target on Tuesday, when Santos committed to the Golden Gophers over Texas Tech and Colorado.

"The Gopher staff zeroed in on Santos immediately this spring and attended everything the 6'5/6'6 210-pound forward did. Why? Santos is a perfect fit for Medved's Gophers," writes James.

NEWS: 4⭐️ Isaiah Santos has committed to Minnesota, source told @Rivals.

The 6-5 small forward picked the Gophers after recently making visits to Texas Tech and Colorado. Ranked within the top-85 nationally in the 2027 class. https://t.co/52TkxhO4Mo pic.twitter.com/9qgoncPCg0
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) July 28, 2026

The 247Sports Composite ranks Santos as the No. 20 small forward in the country and the No. 6 hoops recruit from the state of Texas.

Minnesota picks up four-star SF with "brute force" in Isaiah Santos

On the Nike EYBL Circuit this summer, he averaged 14.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Playing for AB Elite, he shot 50% from the field. During his junior season at Seven Lakes High School, Santos averaged 22.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

He was the All-Greater Houston Player of the Year, and he's trending to be a McDonald's All-American in 2026.

Santos plays with "brute force" and he's a difference-maker. Of his 7.8 rebounds per game in the EYBL, 3.3 came on the offensive end. In FIBA, 4.5 of his 9.0 rebounds per game were on the offensive glass.

"There’s not a ton of nuance to his game, as he relies primarily on brute force more so than overly polished skill, but he knows who he is and plays to his strengths," writes 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein.

For Medved and Minnesota, Santos is the first commitment for 2027, and he's a massive one.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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