Gophers have “interest” in Northern Iowa transfer Nate Heise

While the NCAA Tournament is heating up, so is the transfer portal. One of the most notable names that have entered their name for Gophers fans, is Northern Iowa transfer forward Nate Heise. Hailing from Lake City, Minnesota, his last name is familiar to most as the brother of Minnesota hockey legend and No. 1 OVR 2023 PWHL Draft pick Taylor Heise. With the Gophers connection to Lake City and the Heise family, the fit obviously made sense.

KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported today that there is serious interest between Heise and the Gophers. I confirmed this with two people close to the program. That level of interest I have not heard, but the fact that there is at least something there is worth monitoring. Last season in Cedar Falls, Heise averaged 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per-game enroute to third team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. Listed at 6-foot-4, he would provide the Gophers some depth on the wing and in the backcourt.

It was reported that he is entering the portal as a “grad transfer.” Graduating high school in 2020, he has been in college for five years, but with the COVID-year, it has only exhausted three years of eligibility and he has the traditional grad-year. But in 2022-23, he played in only two games before a season-ending hand injury, so barring an NCAA waiver, he might have two seasons of eligibility if he wants it.

What’s Next?:

The timing of the Transfer Portal is something that needs to be fixed, the fact that the Gophers are making an NIT run and contacting transfers at the same time is ridiculous, but when there is smoke there tends to be fire and there is certainly some smoke in this situation.

No Gophers players has entered the portal yet, or said they don’t plan to return next season, so there is plenty left to shake out. Landing a player like Heise could give Minnesota some insurance if they were to lose a player like Cam Christie, Josh Ola-Joseph or Braeden Carrington.