Minnesota’s men’s basketball team recently added a big presence to its practices.

Everett Pedescleaux, a 6-foot 5-inch, 240-pound Gophers football defensive end has decided to walk on to the team and is currently going through workouts.

Whether he sticks or not, Pedescleaux is an intriguing pickup for a team in need of inside depth. He was an all-state high school player at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and originally committed to play basketball at Northern Iowa.

Pedescleaux would have been a freshman this year, but underwent surgery on his left knee last summer. He has full eligibility beginning in the 2005-06 season, because he didn’t enroll full-time until January.

Eslinger All-American

Football center Greg Eslinger has been named a 2005 Playboy All-American. He’s the first Gophers player ever to be named to the team twice, also being selected to it last year.

Konrad takes gold

Minnesota wrestling’s two-time All-America heavyweight Cole Konrad won the gold medal in freestyle at 120 kg at the Pan American Championships in Guatemala City.