Former Hopkins star Taylor Woodson transfers home to Minnesota

Michigan transfer forward Taylor Woodson committed to the Gophers Thursday. A former Hopkins High School star, Woodson just completed her freshman season in Ann Arbor averaging 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game. She chose a homecoming to the University of Minnesota over other visits to Wisconsin and Nebraska.

She earned a name for herself in high school, playing on the Hopkins varsity team since seventh grade. She won two different state championships, earned 2023 Class AAAA All-State honors and 2023 All-Lake Conference and averaged 18.7 points per game as a senior. ESPN ranked her as 59th best player in the 2023 class nationwide, before choosing the Wolverines.

Michigan commit Taylor Woodson showed out last night to lead Hopkins to a section championship! @TaylorWoodson20

Full highlights: https://t.co/apesITSt1N pic.twitter.com/Dh26C4fPcA

— Fresh Coast Hoops (@FreshCoastHoops) March 10, 2023

What’s Next?

Taylor Woodson is an uberly talented 6-foot forward who will likely play a huge role on the Gophers roster right away. Freshman post player Ayianna Johnson entered the portal earlier this week and Woodson has a great chance to fill that role and then some. She will get to reunite with former AAU and high school teammate Amaya Battle.

Potential lineup

• PG: Amaya Battle/Kennedy Klick/McKenna Johnson
• SG: Mara Braun/Maggie Czinano/Tori McKinney/*Brynn Senden
• F: Grace Grocholski/Annika Stewart
• F: Mallory Heyer/Taylor Woodson/McKenzie Danlan
• C/F: Sophie Hart/Nia Holloway/Aminata Zie
  • *=Prefered Walk-On

Listed at 6-foot, I think Woodson is a more natural four or even a three, but she could also have the potential and athleticism to play small-ball five for the Gophers. Adding her and Nebraska transfer Annika Stewart gives head coach Dawn Plitzuweit nine legitimate players they can rotate throughout the season. Minnesota’s entire starting lineup returns, so that would be the likely group to start next season, but Woodson has the level of talent that would not surprise me if we see her start a few games next season.

Now 11 of the 14 players on the team played high school basketball in Minnesota. Plitzuweit has completely transformed this roster in about 12 months and they have incredible depth and versatility. Adding a player look Taylor Woodson is great for the short-term future and even more for the long-term future as the program looks ahead to recruiting her little sister Tatum Woodson who is currently a junior at Hopkins.