Mount Marty Men's Basketball Welcomes 15 Newcomers for 2025-26 Season
The Mount Marty University Men's Basketball program is excited to announce the addition of 15 new student-athletes for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
"Our program continues to build momentum in a really exciting way," said Head Coach Collin Authier. "This recruiting class reflects that growth. We've addressed key needs by adding depth and experience, while also bringing in talented young men who will play a major role in our future success."
The incoming class includes a balanced mix of five transfer student-athletes, nine high school recruits, and one international player.
"We take a team approach to recruiting," Authier added. "This class wouldn't be possible without the tireless work of Coach Gross and Coach Laraby. Bringing in a group this large takes time and effort, and our staff has done an outstanding job finding student-athletes who align with the values and standards of Mount Marty University."
*Deegan Williams | 6'2 | Senior | Gillette, WY | Thunder Basin HS/Black Hills State University
*Jackson Edman | 6'7 | Junior | Pierre, SD | Pierre HS/Black Hills State University
*Khayree Rashed | 6'8 | Junior | Phoenix, AZ | Eastern Wyoming Community College
*Hayden Anderson | 6'6 | Sophomore | Renner, SD | Brandon Valley HS/Dakota State University
*Hudson Ellwood | 6'0 | Freshman | Castle Pines, CO | Rock Canyon High School/University of Colorado
Ian Buettner | 6'1 | Freshman | Garretson, SD | Garretson High School
Ali Celik | 6'3 | Freshman | Canton, SD | Ankara, Turkey
Teagin Gacke | 6'2 | Freshman | Crooks, SD | Tri-Valley High School
Dayvion Green | 6'7 | Freshman | West Fargo, SD | West Fargo Sheyenne High School
Spencer Karstens | 6'1 | Freshman | Gayville, SD | Gayville-Volin High School
Preston McFayden | 6'2 | Freshman | Pickstown, SD | Wagner Community High School
Braxton Pravecek | 6'2 | Freshman | Estelline, SD | Estelline-Hendricks High School
Dayler Segrist | 6'2 | Freshman | Rapid City, SD | Rapid City Stevens High School
Kyle Virtue | 6'4 | Freshman | Custer, SD | Custer High School
Cohen Zahrbock | 6'3 | Freshman | Yankton, SD | Yankton High School
*Indicates transfer student-athlete
In addition to adding 15 new student-athletes to the basketball program, Coach Authier has announced the addition of Sawyer Schultz to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. "I've known Sawyer and his family for a long time, going back to his recruitment as a student-athlete," Authier said. "He is incredibly personable, a passionate competitor, and has a deep knowledge of the game. His background as a local standout and his experience competing in the GPAC will be a tremendous asset to our program."
Schultz was a standout prep athlete at Bridgewater-Emery High School, where he played a key role in one of the most successful stretches in program history. His toughness, versatility, and leadership helped guide the Huskies to multiple deep postseason runs, including a state championship, and earning him recognition as one of the premier players in the state as the Class B Player of the Year.
Following high school, Schultz went on to continue his career at Dakota Wesleyan University. Competing in the highly competitive Great Plains Athletic Conference, Schultz became known for his toughness, high basketball IQ, and unselfish style of play. Unfortunately, due to injuries, his career came to an end early.
"Relationships in the basketball world are so important because you never know when things will come full circle," Authier added. "Sawyer has matured so much over the years, and I'm excited for his development as both a person and a coach in our program. His ability to connect with players—through his own experiences of what to do, what to avoid, and how hard you have to work to achieve your goals—will allow him to make an immediate impact."
In his role as graduate assistant, Schultz will contribute to all areas of the program, including player development, recruiting, scouting, and day-to-day operations. He will be pursuing his M.A. Education in Coaching Leadership at Mount Marty University.
