East Ridge standout guard Cedric Tomes picked the Gophers after visiting this week.

East Ridge guard Cedric Tomes on Saturday became the first local high school player to commit to the Gophers men’s basketball team under new coach Niko Medved.

The 6-1 junior was a top in-state target for the previous coaching staff, and his recruitment picked up with Medved, who offered him a scholarship again on his unofficial visit to campus Thursday.

“It feels great,” Tomes told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “I knew it was the right time to make a decision. Ever since Coach Medved and the rest of the coaching staff came in it just felt special what they have going there. Culture is as important to them as it is to me. I want to get the Minnesota culture going.”

For more on Tomes, click here to read this story on startribune.com.