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/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Get to Know Men's Basketball's Kai Shinholster
9/1/2025 1:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kai Shinholster committed to the Golden Gophers in the fall of 2024 and remained a Gopher following Niko Medved's hire. Shinholster hails from Woolwich, N.J., but later lived in Philadelphia and played at William Penn Charter School and K-Low Elite on the Adidas circuit. As a senior captain for William Penn Charter, Shinholster was a three-time All Inter-AC selection, including a first-team honor his senior year. He scored over 1,000 points in his career and helped William Penn Charter to a 2025 Inter-AC championship, the school's fourth straight, and a 24-5 record. He was also a three-time Inter-Academic All-League selection. Get to know Shilholster more in this recent question/answer session.
Why Minnesota?
I chose Minnesota because of the culture I first witnessed when I came here on a visit. I was very interested in everything about it. Coming from the East Coast and coming to the Midwest, being in an entirely different place, I trusted my gut and trusted myself in coming here.
When did you get into basketball and did you play other sports?
Growing up, I played pretty much every sport, from baseball to flag football, soccer and basketball. My brother and I were just active kids. I loved basketball a little more because my dad played the sport and we've played it for as long as I can remember so it's always been with me.
When did you realize that basketball was your sport and that you could play at a higher level?
Honestly, I realized basketball was my favorite sport when I started kid pitching baseball. I used to love baseball and all the Sandlot movies and then the kids started pitching at me and realized this wasn't the sport for me.
You're from New Jersey, but played in Philadelphia. Talk to us about how that experience was for you?
Majority of my life I've lived in Philadelphia. My parents always say we laid our heads in New Jersey. It's different, but home to me, being around kids I had been around my entire life. You can tell the atmosphere playing against a Philly basketball playing compared to a New Jersey basketball player is different. Definitely the inner city grit, I just loved that.
You committed to the previous coaching staff and decided to stay committed under this new staff. What was it about Minnesota and Niko's staff that made you want to stay?
My first conversation with Niko Medved went great. That obviously was the first time that happened to me where the coach that recruited me was no longer here. It was was a little nerve wracking not knowing what was going to happen with your future. Niko called me one night and it was a great conversation. I felt he truly believed in me. I just felt that connection here already. Isaac (Asuma) and Grayson (Grove) announced that they were staying and they were two guys that I shadowed on my visit. I just felt completely comfortable and I trusted that to make the decision.
Whirlwind of a summer for you with graduating and coming to Minnesota and starting camp. How have you been able to adjust?
This summer has been great. This has probably been one of the fastest summers I've had. The adjusting was fairly easy. I graduated on a Saturday, and then practicing at a college facility away from family on Monday was crazy. The coaching staff and the guys around me made it really easy to adjust. I really like how, as a team, we got super close really fast. It was easy to adjust.
What has been the best advice or something you've taken away from this summer camp that you can apply heading into the season?
I've been around the older guys a lot on this team so I just pick their brains with all sorts of questions. They all talk to me a lot that it truly does go by fast. That's just something I'm keeping in mind as I go through every practice and every game opportunity. Just make the most of every opportunity.
You're a true freshman, any idea on what you want to major in academically?
I want to get into sports management. At the end of my senior year of high school, we had to do an internship and I interned at a sports management company that did youth development, partnership programs. All on the business side of basketball that really interested me. It's not just a game anymore it's more of a business so I want to look into the business side of basketball.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
Just being around these guys and being in this atmosphere. I want to win games and make some memories with this team and have a great year.
Favorite Food: Chicken Tenders
Binge Steam watch favorites: Suits, great lawyer show
Snack time options: Nacho Cheese Doritos
If you weren't playing basketball, I'd be: Probably have like a clothing brand with my brother
Why Minnesota?
I chose Minnesota because of the culture I first witnessed when I came here on a visit. I was very interested in everything about it. Coming from the East Coast and coming to the Midwest, being in an entirely different place, I trusted my gut and trusted myself in coming here.
When did you get into basketball and did you play other sports?
Growing up, I played pretty much every sport, from baseball to flag football, soccer and basketball. My brother and I were just active kids. I loved basketball a little more because my dad played the sport and we've played it for as long as I can remember so it's always been with me.
When did you realize that basketball was your sport and that you could play at a higher level?
Honestly, I realized basketball was my favorite sport when I started kid pitching baseball. I used to love baseball and all the Sandlot movies and then the kids started pitching at me and realized this wasn't the sport for me.
You're from New Jersey, but played in Philadelphia. Talk to us about how that experience was for you?
Majority of my life I've lived in Philadelphia. My parents always say we laid our heads in New Jersey. It's different, but home to me, being around kids I had been around my entire life. You can tell the atmosphere playing against a Philly basketball playing compared to a New Jersey basketball player is different. Definitely the inner city grit, I just loved that.
You committed to the previous coaching staff and decided to stay committed under this new staff. What was it about Minnesota and Niko's staff that made you want to stay?
My first conversation with Niko Medved went great. That obviously was the first time that happened to me where the coach that recruited me was no longer here. It was was a little nerve wracking not knowing what was going to happen with your future. Niko called me one night and it was a great conversation. I felt he truly believed in me. I just felt that connection here already. Isaac (Asuma) and Grayson (Grove) announced that they were staying and they were two guys that I shadowed on my visit. I just felt completely comfortable and I trusted that to make the decision.
Whirlwind of a summer for you with graduating and coming to Minnesota and starting camp. How have you been able to adjust?
This summer has been great. This has probably been one of the fastest summers I've had. The adjusting was fairly easy. I graduated on a Saturday, and then practicing at a college facility away from family on Monday was crazy. The coaching staff and the guys around me made it really easy to adjust. I really like how, as a team, we got super close really fast. It was easy to adjust.
What has been the best advice or something you've taken away from this summer camp that you can apply heading into the season?
I've been around the older guys a lot on this team so I just pick their brains with all sorts of questions. They all talk to me a lot that it truly does go by fast. That's just something I'm keeping in mind as I go through every practice and every game opportunity. Just make the most of every opportunity.
You're a true freshman, any idea on what you want to major in academically?
I want to get into sports management. At the end of my senior year of high school, we had to do an internship and I interned at a sports management company that did youth development, partnership programs. All on the business side of basketball that really interested me. It's not just a game anymore it's more of a business so I want to look into the business side of basketball.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
Just being around these guys and being in this atmosphere. I want to win games and make some memories with this team and have a great year.
Favorite Food: Chicken Tenders
Binge Steam watch favorites: Suits, great lawyer show
Snack time options: Nacho Cheese Doritos
If you weren't playing basketball, I'd be: Probably have like a clothing brand with my brother
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