The Minnesota men’s basketball team took a significant step toward bolstering its future frontcourt late Wednesday night when 6-foot-9 inch, 240-pound Colton Iverson verbally committed to the Gophers for the 2007-08 season.

Iverson, a senior at Yankton High School in Yankton, S.D., is ranked 37th-best power forward in his class by Rivals.com. He informed coach Tubby Smith of his decision when the two met at Iverson’s home on Wednesday.

After narrowing an estimated 25 scholarship offers, down to five teams – Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Creighton and the Gophers – earlier this month, Iverson visited the Minnesota campus in early September.

Iverson called that “great” and said he is excited to work with Smith and his staff.

“I made my decision a couple nights ago,” Iverson said. “I just knew Minnesota was the right place for me.”

Iverson said Smith told him he envisions playing the Yankton native at both the power forward and center position, and that he will play both on the perimeter and in the paint.