Fort Lewis College head men's basketball coach Bob Pietrack recently announced the signing of nine student-athletes to the team’s roster for 2023-24. All of the student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent, letters of commitment or financial aid agreements to FLC.
This year's class features proven Division II talent, a Division I Power-Five transfer, the No. 1 three-point shooter from the National Junior College Athletic Association and a pair of walk-ons.
“I'm filled with great enthusiasm to announce our 2023 recruiting class,” Pietrack said. “After the most successful season in program history, we found ourselves needing to reconstruct our roster. I believe this class is as talented as any that we've had over the last 20 years. To capture five proven D2 transfers, a D1 transfer, a coveted junior college point guard and three high school prospects is a feat of its own. Our staff feels that we've addressed all of our roster needs and have some exciting pieces to put together in September.”
Amondo Miller Jr., a six-foot-six Colorado native, spent two seasons with the Buffaloes at Division I University of Colorado Boulder. After utilizing a redshirt in 2021-22, Miller Jr. saw limited minutes for the Buffs last season making five appearances. A 2021 graduate of Valor Christian, Miller Jr. averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in high school en route to helping the Eagles to a 2021 JeffCo League Championship.
Samier Kinsler joins the Skyhawks after a dominant season with the Yellow Jackets at Division II West Virginia State University. West Virginia State went 20-9 overall and achieved the highest ranking in program history at No. 11 (National Association of Basketball Coaches), and made an appearance in the Mountain East Tournament. Averaging 23.4 minutes per game, the Philadelphia guard made 20 starts.
Kinsler was also a 2022-23 BOXTOROW (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Second Team All-American and a Second Team All-MEC honoree. He led WVSU with 16.8 points per game while shooting at a 45% clip from the floor.
Isaiah Thompson makes his way to Durango after spending the last two seasons at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Last season Thompson ranked second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with 9.4 rebounds per game to complement his 11.9 points per game. In his second bout against FLC in Whalen Gymnasium last season, Thompson went off for a 19-point, 16-rebound double-double. Thompson captured Second Team All-RMAC honors. Thompson graduated form Fountain Fort Carson High School in Colorado Springs.
Brayden Carter, a 6-9 forward who graduated from Mullen, joins the Skyhawks after a pair of seasons with the Regis University Rangers. A consistent starter, Carter ranked second on Regis’ roster with 11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He posted a pair of double-doubles and was a 2022-23 Academic All-RMAC Honor Roll award winner. His mother, Melinda Balm-Carter, is a former Fort Lewis women's basketball team member and was inducted into the Fort Lewis College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Malik Whitaker will also move from West Virginia State to FLC. Whitaker, a 6-6 guard from Texas, played a vital role in the Yellow Jackets' success last season. He earned Second Team All-MEC honors in 2022-23. Whitaker ranked second on the Yellow Jackets with 13.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, posting eight double-doubles.
Tristan Hurdle sat out the 2022-23 season due to injury and joins the Skyhawks after three seasons at CSU Pueblo. Prior to the injury, Hurdle was a key role player for the ThunderWolves off the bench. In 2021-22, Hurdle averaged 26.1 minutes per game while also posting 8.1 points and 2.5 rebounds. Hurdle graduated from Highlands Ranch High School.
Jhei-R Jones will bring a new offensive factor to the Skyhawks after spending last season with NJCAA Division I Kaskaskia College. While with the Blue Devils, the guard started in 28 of his 29 games played and led the team with 16.9 points and 4.1 assists per game to complement his second-best 6.0 rebounds per game. Jones shot an efficient 47.4% from the field while also leading all of NJCAA Division I with a 49.6% shooting percentage from the three-point line. Additionally, Jones was an NJCAA Division III Third Team All-American in 2021-22.
Stewart Erhart, a standout at West Valley, makes his way to Fort Lewis after a highly successful high school career. The six-foot guard was twice named the Alaska Men's Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23. With a single-game best of 35 points, Erhart's offensive prowess was no slouch as it garnered back-to-back All-State honors as well as three All-Conference awards.
A two-year letter winner in football and basketball at Spanish Springs High School in Nevada, Nathan Penney rounds out the pair of walk-ons for the Skyhawks. As a senior, Penney was named the 5A All-North Co-Player of the Year after totaling 54 points and 19 rebounds in a two-game stretch across his final campaign. Additionally, Penney earned Second Team All-Region honors as a junior and First Team All-State honors as a defensive back on the football field. Penney's brother, Jacob, is a member of the FLC football team.
The Skyhawks previously signed Charlie Dortch during the early signing period.
Dortch, a six-foot-nine forward, was a three-year letter winner for Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins. Named the Team Captain ahead of the 2022-23 season, Dortch was both a First-Team All-Conference and Academic All-State honoree in 2021-22.
