Rice transfer Drew Peterson just verbally committed to Minnesota, he tells 247Sports.

“I’m going to Minnesota and I really just thought it was the best overall situation for me,” Peterson said. “I think they have a good thing going and they brought in some really good transfers. Assuming we get to play next season I think we have a shot to make some noise. I think it’s the best situation for me, I’m ready to be a part of the Big Ten.”

Peterson, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound versatile forward, picked the Golden Gophers over Creighton and Vanderbilt.

“My parents had Big Ten bias throughout the whole process that was noted,” Peterson said jokingly. “I definitely saw myself possibly playing there and I thought the Big Ten was the best basketball conference this past year.”

“I thought Minnesota was overall best fit for me, with everything I wanted, and luckily that’s part of the Big Ten, which is great,” he added.

During his sophomore season at Rice, Peterson averaged 11.1 points, 6.5 rebound sand 3.5 assists a game, while shooting 41.1-percent from the field.

“I’m a do-it-all kind of guy,” Peterson said. “I’m versatile and can score from all three levels. One of my preferable things to do is to facilitate and create for others. I’m an unselfish guy and I can rebound and I think I can bring a bunch of things to the table that any team can use.”

This marks the third transfer of the offseason for Minnesota, joining Drake transfer Liam Robbins, who might have been the best transfer pick of the spring, and Central Michigan forward Brandon Johnson.

Minnesota is also bringing in a two-man recruiting class in four-star guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., and three-star forward Martice Mitchell.