Cam Christie leaving Gophers, staying in NBA Draft

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Cam Christie #24 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates his three-point basket against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Williams Arena on February 06, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers won 59-56. ((Photo by David Berding/Getty Images))

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Cam Christie’s tenure with the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team is over after just one season.

Christie is staying in the NBA Draft and foregoing his remaining college eligibility. Christie also entered the NCAA transfer portal on the last day it was open, May 1, as he continued the NBA Draft process. He’s currently the No. 34-ranked prospect in draft projections, a second round pick.

Caleb Williams talks leap from Macalester to Gophers

Macalester graduate transfer Caleb Williams, who dropped 41 points in an exhibition on the Gophers last year, spoke with FOX 9's Jeff Wald about coming to Minnesota to play his final season for Ben Johnson.

The early entry deadline was Wednesday, and the former Gophers’ guard decided to keep his name in. He came to Minnesota as a four-star recruit and made 26 starts as a freshman. The Gophers finished the season 19-15 overall as Christie earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors. He scored a season-high 23 points in a loss at Illinois.

Christie averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 39 percent from the perimeter in one season at Minnesota. With his departure, Ben Johnson is now without seven players, three who started, from last year’s team. That list is highlighted by Pharrel Payne, who left for Texas A&M, and Elijah Hawkins, who went to Texas Tech after saying twice publicly he was returning.

The Gophers will return Dawson Garcia, Mike Mitchell Jr., Parker Fox and Kadyn Betts and have added several players from the transfer portal. They also bring in freshmen Isaac Asuma and Grayson Grove.