Gophers men’s basketball adds Toledo guard Tyler Cochran

The Gophers men’s basketball program picked up a commitment from Toledo transfer guard Tyler Cochran on Saturday.

Cochran, who has one year of eligibility remaining, averaged 14.4 points, a team-high 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 turnovers per game last season for the Rockets, who play in the Mid-American Conference. The 6-foot-2 Bolingbrook, Ill., native was the MAC Co-Defensive Player of Year with a league-leading 1.9 steals per game. He averaged 49% from the field, 53% from 2-point range and 35% from the 3-point arc a year ago.

Cochran will take the Gophers’ final open scholarship, which was vacated by freshman guard Cam Christie when he entered the NBA draft. Christie was taken in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

Cochran is on his fourth college program. The grad transfer started out at Northern Illinois for two seasons (2019-21) before going to Ball State for one year (2021-22) and Toledo for the last two seasons (2022-24).

Cochran committed to Oregon State in May but backed off his pledge. He had interest from Ohio State and others.