Big man Robert Vaihola joins Minnesota from San Jose State
https://x.com/GopherMBB/status/1910021185020043726
The wave of transfer forwards continues this week. Say hello to Robert Vaihola from San Jose State University.
As Niko Medved continues to build his roster, he’s added his second big man of the week in Robert Vaihola.
Robert Vaihola
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 260 lbs
Hometown: San Mateo, California
Robert Vaihola joins the Gophers with one year of eligibility remaining, bringing size, physicality, and rebounding prowess to the frontcourt. Head coach Niko Medved knows him well, having faced Vaihola in Mountain West matchups over the past few seasons.
Vaihola began his college career at Fresno State, where he saw limited action as a freshman, averaging 1.5 points and 2 rebounds in just 7 minutes per game. He then transferred to San Jose State, making a significant leap in his sophomore year. That season, he played in all 35 games and posted averages of 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. After redshirting the following year (possibly due to injury, though not confirmed), Vaihola returned as a junior, starting 31 games and averaging 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Now in his final collegiate season, Vaihola brings a strong presence in the paint. He’s expected to see time at both center and power forward. In Medved’s likely 4-out, 1-in system, Vaihola should fill that interior role, where his toughness and rebounding will be crucial in the Big Ten. A fair comparison for Gopher fans might be former Minnesota forward Frank Mitchell, given their similar skill sets and impact on the boards.
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