The Gophers men’s basketball team have had two in-state commitments in the 2026 recruiting class, and last week, the U landed a pledge in a big man from Congo by way of California.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound center Chadrack Mpoyi gave a verbal commitment to Minnesota after a campus visit to Minneapolis in late August. He is from Likasi, Democratic Republic of Congo and has been playing for Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine Calif., and with All In Elite in the Under Armour Association.

“Next chapter,” Mpoyi wrote in a commitment post on Instagram.

Considered a bruising yet raw player, Mpoyi is the 151st-ranked recruit in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports composite list. He had offers and visits to Oregon State, Utah State and California-Santa Barbara over the last month. He also ha

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