Reggie Lynch will transfer to Minnesota

The Illinois State sophomore will have to sit out a year before playing for the Gophers.

By ajrayno

April 22, 2015 at 5:57PM
Nicholas Jorgensen of left of Hopkins battled Reggie Lynch of Edina for a rebound during class 4-A section final basketball action between Hopkins and Edina High School Tuesday March 13, 2012 in Osseo, MN. Hopkins beat Edina 69-55](Jerry Holt/ STAR TRIBUNE/jgholt@startribune.com) ORG XMIT: MIN2013030412451337
Nicholas Jorgensen of left of Hopkins battled Reggie Lynch of Edina for a rebound during class 4-A section final basketball action between Hopkins and Edina High School Tuesday March 13, 2012 in Osseo, MN. Hopkins beat Edina 69-55](Jerry Holt/ STAR TRIBUNE/jgholt@startribune.com) ORG XMIT: MIN2013030412451337 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Center Reggie Lynch has announced his transfer from Illinois State and committed to the University of Minnesota, his home-state school, sources told the Star Tribune on Tuesday.

Lynch later tweeted: "I WILL BE SIGNING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO CONTINUE MY COLLEGE BASKETBALL CAREER!"

The 6-10 Edina native averaged 9.5 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game as a sophomore, and had the nation's best block percentage according to Kenpom.com. He joins a recruiting class that includes four fall signees – guards Kevin Dorsey, Dupree McBrayer, Jarvis Johnson and big man Jonathan Nwankwo. The Gophers still have two scholarships available for 2015 that they're able to use in the spring signing period, which goes until May 20.

Per NCAA transfer rules, Lynch – the nephew of University of Minnesota and NBA alum Kevin Lynch -- will have to sit out one season before resuming his eligibility in 2016-17. His presence gives a raw position some depth and experience moving forward – next year, only Nwankwo and sophomore Bakary Konate can play at center.

Said uncle Kevin Lynch: "I'm bittersweet about this move. I'm happy for him and I hope he can reach his goals -- he's always wanted to go to Minnesota. At the same time, everybody needs to know that [Illinois State coach] Dan Muller and everybody in the program treated [Reggie] terrifically and so he's leaving a really good situation."

about the writer

about the writer

ajrayno

More from Gophers

card image

Associate head coach Kristen Kelsay said it took a “dream come true” to get her to depart after two seasons with head coach Keegan Cook.

card image