University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Get to Know Men's Basketball's BJ Omot
9/8/2025 10:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BJ Omot comes to the University of Minnesota after stops at California and North Dakota. The Mankato, Minn., product played four games for the Cal Bears last year before being sidelined with an injury. Omot played two seasons at North Dakota where he was the Fighting Hawks' top scorer and garnered All-Summit League First Team honors his final year there. Playing for Mankato East High School, Omot scored 1,118 points and 398 rebounds and was an all-state selection for two seasons. Coming from a family who all started playing basketball early, Omot is the second person in his family to play collegiate basketball at the NCAA level. Get to know Omot more in this question/answer session.Â
Why Minnesota?
It's just home. It's always good to be a hometown kid to play for your hometown state and have the fans show you the love. I'm excited to have family at the games and have all the support you need.
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You're from Mankato, Minnesota after your family moved there. Tell us about your hometown and your time spent there.
It's a great area, it's been growing a lot in recent years. I feel like the athletic scene, especially in basketball, has been a big deal there. We've been producing a lot of athletes in football, basketball and soccer. It's just a great sports city. It's not as big as Minneapolis, but there's a great feeling of community and things to do. It's a great city.
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Did you ever come or play at games at Williams Arena before this year?
I hadn't gone to a Gopher game before so this will be my first time coming up this year. I did play in the state tournament there in 2022 and we got third place that year. So I'm excited to experience it for the first time.
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When did you start playing basketball, did you play other sports? Any other family members play basketball as well?
I started playing basketball when I was about three years old. I always watched NBA games with my older brother. He started to play first and I just followed him. I saw what he was doing and I wanted to do the same as him. History tells itself from there. He played five years at Southwest Minnesota State and had a good career over there. He took a year off, but wants to play professionally. He's not done yet.
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You were sidelined this summer after having surgery. How were you able to help the team without being out on the court?Â
I was just there to bring the energy the team needed. Sometimes there's a day that people have a hard time getting going, but I was here to just help them and bring them up with energy, it can really help the team a lot.
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How's your rehab progress to date?
It's been going great. It's been a long process for sure. I've been sidelined for about eight months now. Just coming back to it, it was hard at first, but it's all coming back now. Rehab has been going really well. My body is feeling better every day and I like the progress I've been seeing.  Â
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What have you learned already from your teammates and coaches so far this year?
Everyone just wants to get better and win. We don't have big egos on this team and we all support each other and want to win. I think we could win a lot of games this year because of that.
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What's one thing people may not know about you?
I used to play soccer. Basketball has always been my favorite sport, but soccer I played soccer when I was younger and pretty good at that too.
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What are you looking forward to this upcoming season?
Just having a lot of support at my games. Having people from my city pulling up, my parents at my games and just playing for Niko. He's one of the best coaches out here. He knows what he's doing. If you just listen to him and everyone can be on the same page, I think there's big things coming.
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Favorite food:Â Chicken Alfredo
Bucket list item you someday want to cross off the list: Â A house for my parents
Favorite all-time NBA player:Â Kevin Durant
Favorite Holiday:Â Â Â It's between Halloween and Christmas. I always had fun trick or treating, but I think I'm going to have to go with Christmas.
Favorite movie:Â Â Avengers: Infinity War
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Why Minnesota?
It's just home. It's always good to be a hometown kid to play for your hometown state and have the fans show you the love. I'm excited to have family at the games and have all the support you need.
Â
You're from Mankato, Minnesota after your family moved there. Tell us about your hometown and your time spent there.
It's a great area, it's been growing a lot in recent years. I feel like the athletic scene, especially in basketball, has been a big deal there. We've been producing a lot of athletes in football, basketball and soccer. It's just a great sports city. It's not as big as Minneapolis, but there's a great feeling of community and things to do. It's a great city.
Â
Did you ever come or play at games at Williams Arena before this year?
I hadn't gone to a Gopher game before so this will be my first time coming up this year. I did play in the state tournament there in 2022 and we got third place that year. So I'm excited to experience it for the first time.
Â
When did you start playing basketball, did you play other sports? Any other family members play basketball as well?
I started playing basketball when I was about three years old. I always watched NBA games with my older brother. He started to play first and I just followed him. I saw what he was doing and I wanted to do the same as him. History tells itself from there. He played five years at Southwest Minnesota State and had a good career over there. He took a year off, but wants to play professionally. He's not done yet.
Â
You were sidelined this summer after having surgery. How were you able to help the team without being out on the court?Â
I was just there to bring the energy the team needed. Sometimes there's a day that people have a hard time getting going, but I was here to just help them and bring them up with energy, it can really help the team a lot.
Â
How's your rehab progress to date?
It's been going great. It's been a long process for sure. I've been sidelined for about eight months now. Just coming back to it, it was hard at first, but it's all coming back now. Rehab has been going really well. My body is feeling better every day and I like the progress I've been seeing.  Â
Â
What have you learned already from your teammates and coaches so far this year?
Everyone just wants to get better and win. We don't have big egos on this team and we all support each other and want to win. I think we could win a lot of games this year because of that.
Â
What's one thing people may not know about you?
I used to play soccer. Basketball has always been my favorite sport, but soccer I played soccer when I was younger and pretty good at that too.
Â
What are you looking forward to this upcoming season?
Just having a lot of support at my games. Having people from my city pulling up, my parents at my games and just playing for Niko. He's one of the best coaches out here. He knows what he's doing. If you just listen to him and everyone can be on the same page, I think there's big things coming.
Â
Favorite food:Â Chicken Alfredo
Bucket list item you someday want to cross off the list: Â A house for my parents
Favorite all-time NBA player:Â Kevin Durant
Favorite Holiday:Â Â Â It's between Halloween and Christmas. I always had fun trick or treating, but I think I'm going to have to go with Christmas.
Favorite movie:Â Â Avengers: Infinity War
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