Season Preview: 2024-25 Men's Basketball

DURANGO, Colo. – A new era of Skyhawks men's basketball is set to begin in 2024-25 under the direction of first-year head coach Jordan Mast, who was a five-time California Pacific Conference Champion in his five seasons with the University of Antelope Valley. In addition, Fort Lewis will open the upcoming campaign down at the prestigious Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, NCAA Division II's premier men's basketball showcase, down in Lakeland, Florida, on Nov. 2-3. 

Looking Back

Fort Lewis closed out one of the most historic runs in program history last season as the Skyhawks captured its second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in as many seasons and picked up its second-straight no. 2-ranking in the South-Central Region entering the NCAA Tournament. Winning three RMAC championships in two years, the Skyhawks have owned a 58-8 overall record, 39-5 mark in conference play alongside a 21-3 record at home, 21-3 record on the road, and 9-3 record at neutral sites since 2022. 

Last year, the Skyhawks made the program’s 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Round of 32 for the second consecutive season thanks to a pair of 97-65 (2022-23) and 86-72 (2023-24) wins over Lubbock Christian. In addition, FLC posted a program-best 29-4 overall record in each of the last two years. 

After closing out the regular season with a 70-65 loss to no. 16/21-ranked Colorado School of Mines, which ultimately cost FLC a share of the regular season title, the Skyhawks bounced back with a vengeance, outlasting CSU Pueblo 102-96 in Whalen Gymnasium in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Skyhawks then went into Grand Junction, Colo., for the second straight season and exacted revenge on no. 21-ranked Colorado School of Mines by way of an 87-73 victory before moving on to down no. 5/6-ranked Colorado Mesa 86-75 en route to the program’s second conference tournament championship in Brownson Arena. FLC’s season ultimately came to a close in the NCAA Tournament when no. 6-ranked Colorado Mesa finally bested the Skyhawks in the two program’s third matchup of the season, 85-80. 

The Skyhawks spent 31 consecutive weeks on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll before closing out the season with a no. 5 overall ranking. Former guard Obi Agbim was named First-Team All-Region by the NABC and Second-Team All-Region by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association in addition to his First-Team All-RMAC nod alongside Malik Whitaker. Former Skyhawks Junior Garbrah and Brayden Carter were also named Second-Team All-RMAC. 

Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic

The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic has been the premier showcase of Division II Men's Basketball since its inception in 2016. The event is hosted by Small College Basketball, an organization that supports and promotes all levels of small college basketball, including NCAA DII, DIII, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and Division II (USCAA), and National Christian College Athletic Association Division I and Division II (NCCAA). Granted an exemption by the NCAA, The Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, and the Division II Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the SCB Hall of Fame Classic features some of the most talented teams and historic programs across Division II with Fort Lewis joining a short list of 41 program's to compete in the event. The Skyhawks will be the first team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to hit the hardwood this season when taking the floor against Point Loma Nazarene in the second game of the SCB Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11:15 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Fort Lewis will then take on Carson-Newman on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 9:00 a.m. MST. 

The Schedule

The Skyhawks will kick off the 2024-25 campaign down in Lakeland, Florida, at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic against Point Loma Nazarene and Carson-Newman, a pair of programs that fell in their respective conference championships last season. 

Fort Lewis will then be back at home in Whalen Gymnasium on Nov. 8-9 and 15-16 as the Skyhawks host the Conference Crossover and annual Skyhawks Hardwood Classic. Fans can get a peak of South Central Regional competition as Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, and Angelo State come to town. FLC will then head to Grand Junction, Colo., for a pair of neutral-site matchups with Emporia State and Bowie State before jumping into the conference schedule. 

RMAC play will begin with three straight home games against MSU Denver on Thursday, Dec. 5, followed by Regis on Dec. 7 and New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 10. The Skyhawks will take a break from conference action on Dec. 20, for a highly anticipated matchup with West Texas A&M at home at noon followed by the program's annual Native American Heritage Game Powered by NABI against Navajo Tech on Jan. 4 over at the Sun Ute Community Center in Ignacio, Colo., at 7:30 p.m. 

Skyhawks fans will have 16 chances to catch the Skyhawks at home, including Nov. 8 (Eastern New Mexico), Nov. 9 (Angelo State), Nov. 15 (Western New Mexico), Nov. 16 (Northern New Mexico), Dec. 5 (MSU Denver), Dec. 7 (Regis), Dec. 10 (New Mexico Highlands), Dec. 20 (West Texas A&M), Jan. 4 (Navajo Tech), Jan. 16 (South Dakota Mines), Jan. 18 (Black Hills State), Feb. 4 (Adams State), Feb. 13 (Colorado Mesa), Feb. 15 (Western Colorado), Feb. 20 (CSU Pueblo), and Feb. 22 (Colorado Christian). 

The 2024-25 RMAC Tournament will span Mar. 4-8 followed by the NCAA Tournament from Mar. 14-29. 

RMAC Preseason Poll

After capturing its second-consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship last season, Fort Lewis went into a near full-roster transformation this offseason. With head coach Jordan Mast at the helm, the Skyhawks have been slated for a ninth-place finish in the 2024 RMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. Fort Lewis captured 87 total points to surpass tenth-place South Dakota Mines (85) and eleventh-place Western Colorado (74), and trail eighth-place New Mexico Highlands (90) by just three points. Colorado School of Mines will enter the 2024-25 campaign as the preseason favorite with 191 total points and 11 of 15 first-place votes. 

Below is the full RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. First-place votes are in parentheses. Fourteen points were awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place with a maximum possible score of 196. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Revamped Roster

With a new coaching staff comes an almost entirely new roster. Only three Skyhawks from last season's RMAC Tournament Championship team return, including redshirt sophomore Luke Hutto and redshirt freshmen Nathan Penney and Stewart Erhart. 

Head coach Jordan Mast and crew went to work in securing four NCAA Division I transfers featuring Chuol Deng, Biko Johnson, Tristan Moore, and Keither Florence. The Skyhawks added proven collegiate talents in Tru Allen from Division II Northwest Nazarene and Cassius Carmichael from NJCAA Division I College of Southern Idaho. In addition to bringing over a pair of 2023-24 Cal Pac Conference Champions in Malachi Coleman and Joseph LeFlore Jr. from last season's team at the University of Antelope Valley, Mast also signed on five freshmen: AJ Riggs, Aiden Gibson, Noah Hellem, Jude Brideba, and Jacob Neubert. 

Roster Breakdown by Position

Total Players: 16 | Freshman: 7 | Sophomore: 2 | Junior: 3 | Senior: 4

Returners: 3 | Transfers: 13 | Guards: 8 | Forwards: 8

Guards

A Division I transfer and a proven Division II All-Conference talent highlight the Skyhawks newest ball handlers. 

Noah Hellem (Freshman, 5-10, 170, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Air Academy High School)

Hellem comes to Durango following a four-year tennis and boys basketball career at Air Academy High School... named All-State Honorable Mention, First-Team All-Conference, and Air Academy's Male Athlete of the Year as a senior... earned First-Team Academic All-State as a junior and senior... also picked up a Second-Team All-Conference as a junior... tabbed as the PrepHoops National Player of the Week and Whataburger Athlete of the Week as a senior... tallied over 1,000 career points at Air Academy... stands as the all-time leader in career three-pointers made at Air Academy with 151... also led all classifications in Colorado in three-point shooting as a senior with 79 made threes... posted single-game career highs of 35 points and seven made threes... averaged 21.3 points per game his final season. 

AJ Riggs (Freshman, 6-3, 180, Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland High School)

Riggs was a three-year letterwinner for the Hawks at Highland High School from 2019-20 to 2021-22... spent the past two years in Leeds, England, on a church mission... led all 6A schools in the state with 87 three-pointers made in a single season... went for a career-high 37 points while firing at a clip of 9-for-11 from deep... three-time First-Team All-Central Region honoree... scored 1,022 career points in high school... made 221 career treys.

Nathan Penney (Redshirt Freshman, 6-2, 175, Sparks, Nev. / Spanish Springs High School)
Comes to FLC as a two-year letter winner in basketball and football at Spanish Springs High School... owned a 41-15 record across his two varsity seasons with the basketball team... earned Second Team All-Region as a junior... named the 5A All-North Co-Player of the Year as a senior... First Team All-Region as a wide receiver and defensive back his junior year... First Team All-State honors as a defensive back his senior year... named the Athlete of the Year. 

Stewart Erhart (Redshirt Freshman, 6-2, 165, Fairbanks, Alaska / West Valley High School)

Erhart comes to FLC as a three-time All-Conference player for West Valley High School... earned All-State honors as a junior and senior... scored a career-high 35 points in a single contest... named the state of Alaska Men's Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23. 

Joseph LeFlore Jr. (Sophomore, 5-11, 165, Denver, Colo. / Manual High School / University of Antelope Valley)

LeFlore Jr. spent the 2023-24 season with Coach Mast at the now-closed University of Antelope Valley (NAIA)... was a member of the Pioneers Junior Varsity squad... was a one-year letterwinner at Manual High School... recorded 323 points as a senior and finished within the top-20 in Colorado in made threes (67) and within the top-five in his conference... posted ten consecutive games with seven or more made treys... voted Second-Team All-Conference... named team captain... five-time player of the game... four-time academic honor roll... two-time Principal's List award winner.

Malachi Coleman (Junior, 6-2, 163, Bay Shore, N.Y. / Bay Shore High School / University of Antelope Valley)

Coleman played his freshman and sophomore seasons at the now-closed University of Antelope Valley (NAIA)... made eight starts across his 29 games played for the Pioneers in 2023-24... supplied 227 points and averaged 7.8 points per game while shooting at clips of 39.0 percent from the field, 24.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.1 percent at the free throw line... knocked down 24 treys and 47 free-throws on the year... hauled in 106 rebounds to average 3.7 per game while dishing out 85 assists to average 2.9 assists per game... also made 40 steals and blocked three shots... was twice named All-California Pacific Conference... helped the Pioneers to a sweep of the Cal Pac Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships in 2023-24 alongside a regular season title in 2022-23... was also a four-year letterwinner at Bay Shore High School... was twice named All-Conference and thrice voted team captain... posted a career-high 48 points in a single game in high school and ranks eighth all-time on Bay Shore's all-time scoring list after only three seasons. 

Biko Johnson (Senior, 6-2, 185, Carson, Calif. / King Drew High School / University of Nebraska Omaha)

Spent the 2023-24 season as a member of the Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA DI) Mavericks squad... made two starts before a should injury limited Johnson's minutes for the remainder of the season resulting in only 16 appearances in total for the California native... registered season-highs in points scored and minutes played with 15 and 29, respectively, at home against Stetson (Dec. 17)... averaged 10.8 minutes per game and supplied 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game... totaled 53 points with the Mavericks while knocking down seven three-pointers, 20 free-throws, and adding 16 assists and 20 rebounds, and nine steals... shot 31.0 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from deep, and 71.4 percent at the free-throw line at UNO... played two seasons at Western Nebraska Community College and made 46 starts in 62 total games for the Cougars... averaged 13.0 points on 41.2 percent shooting and racked up 808 points while at Western Nebraska... also knocked down 68 treys while firing 30.9 percent from beyond the arc... added 184 free-throws with a 61.7 percent mark at the free-throw line... on the floor he grabbed 285 rebounds (4.6 per game), made 198 assists (3.2 per game), and nabbed 80 steals (1.3 per game)... was a two-year letterwinner in basketball at King Drew High School.

Tru Allen (Fifth Year Senior, 6-0, 190, Lapwai, Idaho / Clarkston High School / Northwest Nazarene University)

Played four seasons at Northwest Nazarene University (NCAA DII) up in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference... guided NNU to three consecutive GNAC Tournament Appearances (2021-22 to 2023-24) and a pair of trips to the NCAA West Regional (2020-21, 2022-23)... made 75 starts across 94 total games played for the Nighthawks... was named the GNAC Freshmen of the Year in 2021-22 followed by All-GNAC Honorable Mention in 2022-23 and Second-Team All-GNAC in 2023-24... ranked 1st in the GNAC & 5th in the country in steals per game in 2023-24... averaged 13.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.64 steals in his final season with NNU... over the span of his career with the Nighthawks, Allen tallied 1,001 points, 281 rebounds (44 offensive), knocked down 70 three-point field goals, and picked up 201 assists, 163 steals, and 11 blocks... averaged 26.3 minutes and shot at clips of 35.8 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.6 percent at the free-throw line at Northwest Nazarene... Allen caps his time in Nampa currently ranked 7th in games started, 8th in total minutes, 13th in steals, 17th in field goals made, 35th in games played, 36th in scoring, 38th in three-pointers made, 38th in assists, and 46th in made field goals while donning the black and red... was a graduate of Clarkston High School... was named the 2020 2A Player of the Year and a First-Team All-State selection... was a member of the 2A Basketball Academic Champions squad as well as the Most Valuable Player of the GNL. 

Forwards

Three Division I talents, a Junior College force, and a trio of exciting freshmen join Fort Lewis' Colorado native in handling the post.

Jacob Neubert (Freshman, 6-7, 205, Durango, Colo. / Durango High School)

Neubert joins his hometown Skyhawks up on the rim after playing basketball at football at Durango High School... was an All-League and All-State Honorable Mention selection. 

Jude Brideba (Freshman, 6-10, 219, Asaba, Nigeria / Orion International Academy)

Comes to Durango after playing prep basketball at Orion International Academy in Ontario, California... helped the Titans to a PC6 Conference Championship and was named the PC6 Most Valuable Player as well as First-Team All-Conference... averaged 10.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game... posted a career-high of 30 points. 

Aiden Gibson (Freshman, 6-8, 217, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia / Riverside High School)

Gibson was a two-time State Champion at Riverside High School... also a two-time National Bronze Medalist... went for a career-high 53 points in a single game.

Luke Hutto (Redshirt Sophomore, 6-3, 180, Montrose, Colo. / Montrose High School)

2023-24 (Redshirt Freshman)
Appeared in seven games for the Skyhawks... played 16 total minutes (2.3/game)... is a perfect 1-1 from the field after scoring his first career points against Navajo Tech (Jan. 2)... grabbed five rebounds and made one block. 

2022-23 (Freshman)
Did not play in any games... used a redshirt.

Cassius Carmichael (Junior, 6-5, 190, Glendale, Ariz. / Ironwood High School / Glendale Community College / College of Southern Idaho)

Spent the 2023-24 season as a member of the Golden Eagles squad at the College of Southern Idaho (NJCAA DI)... played in 16 games making one start at CSI... on 9.9 minutes per game Carmichael supplied 56 points (3.5 per game) and 53 rebounds (3.3 per game) while adding 12 assists (0.8 per game), 14 steals (0.875 per game) and 14 blocks (0.875 per game)... shot clips of 52.6 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from the three-point line with two treys on the season, and 58.3 percent at the charity stripe with 14 made free-throws... served on a mission trip before joining the Golden Eagles... played one season at Glendale Community College in 2019-20 and helped guide the program to the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Championship... played in 26 games and tallied 25 starts for the Vaqueros... totaled 300 points at GCC averaging 11.5 per game while firing off at 48.8 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from deep, and 64.8 percent at the free-throw line... knocked down 22 three-pointers and 68 free-throws for GCC... also racked up 177 rebounds (6.8 per game), 71 assists (2.7 per game), 33 steals (1.27 per game), and 29 blocks (1.12 per game)... was named the 5A Defensive Player of the Year and to the 5A First-Team All-Region team at Ironwood High School... also tabbed the Arizona Breakout Player of the Year... averaged 14.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 2.0 assists per game. 

Keither Florence (Junior, 6-7, 205, Sedgwick, Kan. / Haysville High School / Iona University / Northwest Kansas Technical College)

Florence joins the Skyhawks following a one-year stint at Northwest Kansas Technical College (NJCAA DI)... made four starts across 28 games for the Mavericks... averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while also putting up 10 assists, 14 steals, and five blocks on 13.3 minutes per game... shot at clips of 45.5 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from deep and 56.3 percent at the free throw line... supplied 150 points on the season including two treys and 36 free throws.... originally began his collegiate career at Iona University (NCAA DI) in 2022-23... appeared in 11 games for the Gaels... put up seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal during his time in New Rochelle, New York... shot 50 percent from the field and from deep... made one three-pointer across his 45 minutes... was a standout at Haysville High School and owns the single-season rebounding record... earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. 

Tristan Moore (Senior, 6-7, 200, Albuquerque, N.M. / La Cueva High School / Houston Christian University)

Played three seasons at Houston Christian University (NCAA DI)... made 12 starts in 63 total games for 861 minutes (13.7 per game) for the Huskies... played in 25 of HCU's 29 games in 2023-24 and averaged 3.7 points, 2.09 rebounds, and 1.0 assists as a junior... went for a season-high 14 points on the road at Texas A&M (Dec. 22)... hauled in a career-high 10 rebounds against McNeese (Feb. 12)... supplied a total of 263 points (4.2 per game), 106 rebounds (1.7 per game), 36 assists (0.6 per game), 17 steals, and 10 blocks... knocked down 44 treys and 61 free throw for the Huskies... posted career shooting percentages of 33.1 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from deep, and 80.3 percent at the free throw line... scored a career-high 26 points in 12 minutes against Barclay (Nov. 13, 2021)... earned Southland Conference Second-Team All-Academic honors in his final season and was named to the Southland Conference Commisioner's Honor Roll in 2022-23... was a two-year letterwinner at La Cueva High School... averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a senior... earned All-Metro, All-District, and Academic All-District honors while with the Bears... also played one season for Coach John OPretega at PHHoenix Prep (previosuly Powerhouse Hoops Prep). 

Chuol Deng (Senior, 6-7, 208, Juba, South Sudan / The Skills Factory / Colorado Northwestern Community College / Hill College / Oakland University)

Deng most recently spent the 2022-23 season with the Golden Grizzlies at Oakland University (NCAA DI)... played in 13 games and saw 42 minutes of action on the floor... went 2-3 from the field and 2-2 at the free throw line for six total points... also hauled in 12 rebounds, nabbed two steals, and recorded one block and assist each... played his 2021-22 season at Hill College (NJCAA DI)... played in 30 games and averaged 9.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game with the Rebels... shot 54.7 percent from the floor, 27.8 percent from deep, and 71.2 percent at the free throw line... recorded 291 points, 288 rebounds, 42 assists, 19 blocks, and 13 steals during his time in Hillsboro, Texas, while also knocking down 117 field goals, 10 three-pointers, and 47 free throws... voted NTJCAC Second-Team All-Conference... spent the 2020-21 campaign with Colorado Northwestern Community College (NJCAA DI)... saw action in 20 games and posted 11.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game... fired at clips of 32.1 percent from the floor, 26.3 percent from the three-point line, and 56.5 percent at the charity stripe... racked up 226 points, 169 rebounds, 31 assists, 10 steals, and five blocks for the Spartans... also tallied 76 career field goals, 26 treys, and 48 free throws up in Rangley, Colorado... played three years of basketball, two years of soccer, and two years of football while in high school... earned All-Conference honors in basketball. 

Meet The New Coaching Staff

Jordan Mast  - Head Coach

Mast comes to Fort Lewis College after leading the University of Antelope Valley (NAIA) as its head coach for five seasons. During his time at the helm, Mast guided the Pioneers to an overall record of 99-26, three Cal Pac regular-season championships, a pair of conference tournament titles, and three NAIA Tournament berths. Mast was named Cal Pac Conference Coach of the Year three times in his tenure.

Prior to taking the reigns as head coach, Mast spent two seasons on staff at Antelope Valley as the program’s Associate Head Coach. The squad earned back-to-back regular-season and tournament titles in those seasons. Mast’s coaching career began at California Institute of Technology (NCAA DIII) where he was the Assistant Coach from 2015-17. During his first season at Cal Tech, the team combined for the most wins in 61 years.

Before he entered the collegiate coaching ranks, Mast launched Oregon Elite Basketball (OEB). OEB quickly became the largest AAU program in Oregon from 2010-15. He was simultaneously an Assistant Coach at Liberty High School where his team achieved multiple 20+ win seasons and reached the state championship game.

Mast’s love for basketball took him to Gonzaga University where he competed for two seasons before an injury cut his career short. He continued his education at Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

James Jansen - Associate Head Coach

Jansen makes his jump to the NCAA Division II level after serving as the head coach at Treasure Valley Community College over the past two seasons. Jansen guided the Chukars to a 23-7 overall record in 2023-24 and clinched the program's first Northwest Athletic Conference East Region Regular Season Championship since 2013-14 with a 13-1 mark in league play. In addition to being named the East Region Coach of the Year, Jansen's roster also boasted a trio of all-region talents including East Region Defensive Player of the Year Ashraf Barsham.
 
Prior to his time at Treasure Valley, Jansen also had coaching stints at the College of Idaho (2020-22), where he helped guide the Yotes to a program record 32 wins and an Elite Eight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, Simpson University (2017-20), Ponderosa High School (2014-17), and Folsom High School (2011-12). As a player, Jansen competed for two seasons at Bethany University.
 
Jansen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Sacramento State University (2014) and completed his Masters in Sports & Athletic Administration at Concordia University Irvine (2018). Jansen is joined in Durango by his wife Ashlee and their four kids. 

Bryant Knigge - Assistant Coach and Director of Analytics and Advance Scouting

Most recently, and in his first season as an assistant coach, Knigge assisted Hastings College to a 23-9 overall record, a 15-5 mark in Great Plains Athletic Conference play, the Broncos' first share of a regular season championship in 33 years and captured the GPAC Tournament for the first time in program history. In addition to knocking off five top-25 caliber programs throughout the year, the Broncos also made their first appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament since 2010.
 
On the court, Knigge assisted in the development of Reggie Thomas, the program's first-ever First-Team All-American, in addition to capturing multiple high-caliber recruits to prolong the program's success. Off the hardwood, he was also charged with creating scouting reports and game plans, overseeing team film, and co-managing the program's junior varsity squad.
 
Prior to Hastings, Knigge spent three seasons as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Platte Valley High School in Kersey, Colo., after spending one season as an assistant coach and one season as the assistant track and field coach. He also served as the Northern Colorado High School All-Star Game Head Coach in 2022 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Energy Management from Western Colorado University.

Tyler Chisholm - Director of Basketball Operations

Chisholm and Mast first met as Chisholm played three seasons for the Pioneers from 2019-20 to 2021-22. Following his time on the court, Mast helped Chisholm transition to the coach's bench in 2022 when he hired Chisholm as an assistant coach for player development ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. In addition to his player development duties, Chisholm was also named the head coach for the Antelope Valley junior varsity team for the 2023-24 season. Chisholm assisted Mast in capturing back-to-back Cal Pac Regular Season Championships from 2022-24 including a Cal Pac Tournament Championship in 2023-24. 

Chisholm graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from the University of Antelope Valley. 

Joshua Blaylock - Director of Player Development

Blaylock, Fort Lewis' first-ever two-time All-American in the same season, returned to his alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach in the summer of 2024. 

Most notably, Blaylock is remembered by the Skyhawks faithful for knocking down a pair of free throws in the 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship at home in Whalen Gymnasium with :00.7 seconds to secure a 73-72 win over Colorado School of Mines thus capturing the program's third-ever sweep over the RMAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships. 

A member of the Skyhawks from 2015-17, Blaylock was a two-time All-American in 2016-17 (National Association of Basketball Coaches & DII Bulletin), three-time First-Team All-Region selection, two-time First-Team All-RMAC selection, and was named the RMAC Player of the Year in 2016-17.

Blaylock ranks 16th in career scoring (1,266 points), 23rd in made field goals (396), tied for fourth in made three-pointers (199), 13th in made free-throws (275), 25th in assists (182), and ranks first in career points for Skyhawks to play just two seasons up on the rim. 

Grady Corrigan - Graduate Assistant

Grady Corrigan comes to Durango fresh off his collegiate career where he most recently played three seasons for the Broncos at Hastings College, a Great Plains Athletic Conference member and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institution. 

During his time at Hastings, Corrigan made 54 starts across his 75 games played to average 25.2 minutes and 7.3 points per game on 43.0 percent shooting for his career. Most notably, Corrigan earned All-GPAC Honorable Mention honors as a senior after guiding the Broncos to a share of their first GPAC Regular Season title in 33 years before capturing the program's first-ever GPAC Tournament Championship. In addition, Corrigan was voted team captain by his teammates ahead of the historic 2023-24 campaign. 
 
A native of Bennington, Nebraska, and a graduate of Bennington High School, Corrigan will also complete his Masters of Arts in Education: Leading in Context, while in Durango.

Jim Wilkinson - Volunteer Assistant Coach

In his first two seasons at Fort Lewis, Wilkinson aided the Skyhawks through one of its most successful runs capturing both the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2022-23 followed by a second-consecutive RMAC Tournament Championship in 2023-24. During the same span, the Skyhawks produced the second-best record in all of NCAA Division II at 58-8, spent 31 consecutive weeks on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll, secured back-to-back No. 2 rankings in the South-Central Region at the NCAA Tournament, and finished first in the nation in percent capacity (73.13 percent) and fourth in the nation in average attendance (2,011). 

A long-tenured high school in Pennsylvania, Wilkinson has since retired and enjoys life in Durango with his wife. 

Kam Sekaquaptewa and Cody Ross - Student Assistants

Sekaquaptewa and Ross will embark on their first seasons as student assistants in 2024-25. Sekaquaptewa previously played collegiate basketball at Haskell Indian Nations University. 

Final Thoughts from Head Coach Jordan Mast

Countdown To The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic