Season Preview: 2025-26 Men's Basketball

DURANGO, Colo. – As head coach Jordan Mast settles into his second year at Fort Lewis College and within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, he reloads his Skyhawks men's basketball roster with a pair of All-RMAC talents, as well as an outside shooter and a forward from the Division I level, and a series of junior college and freshman talents as he looks to lead Fort Lewis back to prominence and the postseason. 

Looking Back

Head Coach Jordan Mast was handed a tall task last season when he came to Fort Lewis in the spring of 2024 with a roster featuring just three returning Skyhawks from the season prior. Mast brought in associate head coach James Jansen, former Skyhawks All-American guard and RMAC Player of the Year Joshua Blaylock, as the director of player development, and one of his former players at Antelope Valley University, Tyler Chisholm, as the director of basketball operations. The first-year Skyhawks coaching staff settled in, quickly bringing eight transfers and signing five freshmen. Mast and staff's inaugural squad embraced the challenge of maintaining the program's success, battling out to a 19-12 overall record and a 12-8 mark against RMAC opponents. 

Fort Lewis' efforts led to the program's fifth-consecutive appearance at the RMAC Tournament, and the Skyhawks opened the postseason with a bang, routing Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa University 89-65 up at Brownson Arena in Grand Junction, Colo. The Skyhawks' postseason run was short-lived, however, as second-seeded Regis University forced a semifinal exit for FLC with a 69-62 win up at Lockridge Arena in Golden, Colo. In addition, the Rangers captured the final spot in the NCAA Men's Basketball Division II South Central Regional down in Dallas, Texas. 

Despite a new look, Fort Lewis' game plan remained the same: score at a high level and force turnovers. Mast improved on the Skyhawks' full-court press, guiding the team to average 12.5 steals, 19.35 turnovers forced, and a +6.9 turnover margin, marks that ranked second, sixth, and seventh across all of NCAA Division II. In addition, the Skyhawks dominated the RMAC, forcing 19.8 turnovers, grabbing 13.25 steals, and boasting a +8.6 turnover margin in conference play.

Offensively, Mast's squad backed itself up on the opposite end of the court, scoring the third-most points per game (79.1) in the RMAC with the league's fourth-best scoring margin (+5.4). In just his first season, Mast led Fort Lewis to a pair of signature wins on the road over No. 23/25 MSU Denver, 81-74, and at home over south-central region powerhouse No. 8/4 West Texas A&M, 76-69. 

At the end of the season, three Skyhawks were tabbed with All-RMAC honors. Fifth-year guard Biko Johnson, who ranked second in the RMAC in scoring (16.3 pts/game), led the trio with First-Team honors, while Chuol Deng and Tru Allen picked up Second-Team and Honorable Mention honors, respectively. Additionally, Fort Lewis continued to pack out Whalen Gymnasium, ranking 12th in Division II in attendance with 16,859 spectators and an average attendance of 1,124. 

The Schedule

Fans can catch their first glimpse of the 2025-26 Skyhawks tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov. 8, as Nelson University, the reigning 2025 National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball National Champions, comes to town for an exhibition at 8 pm inside Whalen Gymnasium. Tickets are available, or fans can bring three non-perishable food items as a donation to the Fort Lewis College Grub Hub for free admission. The game will not be streamed. 

Fort Lewis will compete in a loaded non-conference schedule that features a full slate of Lone Star Conference opponents, including six teams inside the top-10 of the LSC Preseason Poll. The Skyhawks will kick off the 2025-26 campaign with a Conference Challenge down at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales, N.M., against Eastern New Mexico University, which tied for sixth in the LSC preseason poll, on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 pm. Western New Mexico University, picked 15th in the LSC preseason poll, will await FLC the next day, Saturday, Nov. 15, for a 5 pm contest. 

Fans can then catch four exciting games at home in Whalen Gymnasium from Nov. 21-22, as Fort Lewis plays host to its annual Skyhawks Hardwood Classic. FLC will duke it out with Western New Mexico once more on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 pm, before taking on preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches No. 25-ranked Lubbock Christian University, picked third in the LSC preseason poll, on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 pm. Colorado Mesa will also be in town, and compete against both squads on a flipped schedule at 5 pm each night. 

It will be a trip to the Lone Star State for the Skyhawks the following weekend, as the Skyhawks head for a familiar First United Bank Center down at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Angelo State University, which tied for sixth on the LSC preseason poll, will take on the Skyhawks at 6:30 pm Mountain Standard Time on Friday, Nov. 28, before Fort Lewis looks for a rematch with the Buffaloes, who received votes on the preseason NABC top 25 poll and were picked to finish fifth on the LSC preseason poll, on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 4:30 pm. 

Fort Lewis will then kick off Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on the Front Range, first at Metropolitan State University of Denver, which was picked sixth behind the Skyhawks on the RMAC preseason coaches poll, on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 pm, before heading next door to take on Regis University on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 pm. Fans can then enjoy a pair of RMAC matchups at home up on the rim featuring New Mexico Highlands University on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 pm, and Adams State University the following Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 pm. 

As students depart for the semester break, the Skyhawks will also depart for their final two non-conference games and an appearance at the River City Holiday Classic. Hosted by Pittsburg State University, the classic will take place at the Northside ISD Sports Gymnasium in San Antonio, Texas. Fort Lewis will open the event against St. Edward's University, which was picked fourth in the LSC preseason poll, at 10 am MST on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Skyhawks will then lineup opposite a duanting St. Mary's University squad, who picked up votes on the NABC preseason top 25 poll and was picked second in the LSC preseason poll, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 10 am MST. 

Fort Lewis faithful will then get eight home games in Whalen Gymnasium as the calendar flips to 2026, starting with Western Colorado University and Westminster University on Thursday and Saturday, Jan. 8-1, at 7:30 pm and 3 pm, respectively. The Skyhawks will then make a four-game home-stand, welcoming Colorado Christian University on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 pm, University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3 pm, preseason No. 10-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 pm, and MSU Denver on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3 pm. The final two home games in Whalen Gymnasium will feature Chadron State College on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 pm, and South Dakota Mines on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 pm. 

Eight road trips will await the Skyhawks in 2026, including South Dakota Mines on Thursday, Jan. 15, preseason RMAC favorite and No. 17-ranked Black Hills State University on Jan. 17, Adams State on Thursday, Feb. 5, New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Feb. 7, Colorado Mesa on Thursday, Feb. 12, Western Colorado University on Feb. 14, Colorado State University Pueblo on Thursday, Feb. 26, and Colorado Christian on Saturday, Feb. 28. 

The 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament will take place from Tuesday through Friday, March 3-7. Quarterfinal matchups will take place on the campus sites of the top four seeds on Tuesday, March 3, while the semifinals and championship will take place on the campus site of the highest remaining seed following the opening round. The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship South Central Regional will take place March 13-17 on the campus of the No. 1 seed in the region, while the Elite Eight will take place at the UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pa., from March 25 to April 5.

RMAC Preseason Poll and Preseason All-RMAC

Fort Lewis, after reaching the semifinals of the 2025 RMAC Tournament last season, was picked to finish fifth in the league's standings with 143 total points and two third-place votes. The Skyhawks trail UCCS (144 pts) by a single point, thanks to two second-place votes and one third-place vote for the Mountain Lions. Black Hills State is the preseason favorite with 183 points, 10 first-place votes, two second-place votes, and one third-place vote. The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 17 in the NABC preseason top 25 poll, are followed closely by preseason No. 10-ranked Colorado School of Mines (167 pts) and Colorado Mesa (158), who also received votes on the NABC preseason poll. 

Below is the full RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.  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.

2025-26 sees the return of plenty of talent across the league, and with it, the return of the Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team. The RMAC's preseason team is determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches' voting from the league's 2024-25 All-RMAC Teams. In total, the 2025 Preseason All-RMAC Basketball Team features two returning First-Team selections, four second-team selections, and three honorable mentions.

Symbols in parentheses are 2024-25 All-RMAC Recognitions: FoTY was the Freshman of the Year; 1 -was a First Team All-RMAC selection; 2 - was a Second Team All-RMAC selection; H - was an Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection.

A New Look for the Skyhawks

Fort Lewis brought in nine offseason acquisitions, consisting of two NCAA Division I transfers in Massal Diouf and Jaxon Smith, captured the reigning RMAC scoring leader in Jude Tapia from Adams State University, added two other collegiate transfers in Yorgio Golesis and Donald Bangham, Jr., and signed four talented freshmen in Tate Ziemkiewicz, Garrett Barger, Ty Yoder, and Daniel Steverson.

Roster Breakdown by Position

Total Players: 15 | Freshman: 5 | Sophomore: 3 | Junior: 2 | Senior: 5

Returners: 6 | Transfers: 5 | Signed: 4 | Guards: 10 | Forwards: 5

Guards

A Division I outside shooter, the reigning RMAC scoring leader, and two talented junior college products highlight the Skyhawks' speedy scoring threats. 

(Year, Height, Weight, Hometown, State, High School, Previous School)

#0 Jaxon Smith (R-So., 6'2", 188 lbs, Bountiful, Utah / Woods Cross / Utah State University)

Before FLC
Smith spent the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with the Aggies at Utah State University (NCAA DI)... utilized a redshirt season in 2023-24 to retain a year of eligibility... named a Joe E. and Elma Whitesides Scholar-Athlete in 2023-24 and a Whitesides Scholar-Athlete in 2024-25... was a member of the 2023-24 Aggies Mountain West Conference Regular Season Title team... played in 11 games in 2024-25... totaled 25 minutes (2.3 min/game) on the floor, scoring 14 points (1.3 pts/game) while grabbing one rebound and making one assist... made his collegiate debut and knocked down his first career field goal, a three-pointer, against Alcorn State University (Nov. 6, 2024)... went 2-for-2 in his first appearance at the free throw line against Utah Tech University (Dec. 7, 2024)... all four made field goals were three-pointers... recorded a 54-15 overall record and 29-9 record in Mountain West play while with the Aggies including back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament with a Round of 32 appearance in 2023-24... was a four-year letterwinner at Woods Cross High School... led the Wildcats to a 5A State Championship Runners-Up finish in 2022 and scored a team-high 11 points in the title game... ranks second all-time in career three-pointers and fourth all-time in career scoring at Woods Cross... averaged 16 points, four assists, and three rebounds per game as a senior, while shooting 91 percent at the free throw line... earned First-Team All-Region and Second-Team All-State honors as a junior and senior... named Second-Team All-Region as a sophomore... was named the Regional Most Valuble Player and to the State Championship All-Tournament Team as a senior... also thrice voted Team Captain.

Personal
Born June 1, 2005... son of Vanessa and Tony Smith... has one sibling, Nico... enjoys playing golf and listening to a mix of rap and country music... favorite food is steak... intends on majoring in Finance while at FLC... when asked his favorite part about Fort Lewis, Smith shared, "the men's basketball coaching staff and environment on campus." 

Career Highs
Minutes: 4 at Colorado State University (3/01/2025)
Points: 3, x4, last vs. Air Force Academy (3/08/2025)
Rebounds: 1 vs. Utah Tech University (12/07/2024)
Assists: 1 vs. University of North Carolina at Charlotte (11/09/2024)
Steals: N/A
Blocks: N/A
Field Goals Made: 1, x4, last vs. Air Force Academy (3/08/2025)
Field Goals Attempted: 2, x3, last vs. Air Force Academy (3/08/2025)
3-Field Goals Made: 1, x4, last vs. Air Force Academy (3/08/2025)
3-Field Goals Attempted: 2, x3, last vs. Air Force Academy (3/08/2025)
Free Throws Made: 2 at Utah Tech University (12/07/2024)
Free Throw Attempts: 2 at Utah Tech University (12/07/2024)

#1 Stewart Erhart (R-So., 6'2", 170 lbs, Tanana, Alaska / West Valley High School)

2024-25 (Redshirt Freshman)
Erhart enjoyed a phenomenal freshman campaign as the spearhead for Fort Lewis' full-court defense that ranked 2nd in steals per game (12.5), 6th in turnovers forced per game (19.35), and 7th in turnover margin (+6.9) across NCAA Division II... played in all 31 games and made 24 starts to amass the third-most minutes on the hardwood at 760... led the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and ranked 9th in NCAA Division II with 2.55 steals per game... recorded 79 total steals which stands as the fourth-most in program history (as of 2025)... finished the season with a final line of 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.6 assists per game... boasted the fourth-best field goal percentage (minimum 20 attempts) on the roster at 45.0 percent (91-202)... boasted the second-best free-throw percentage on the roster (minimum 20 attempts) at 88.0 percent (44-50)... also fired at a clip of 28.0 percent (21-75) from the three-point line... scored the fourth-most points among Skyhawks with 247... also racked up 91 rebounds, 51 assists, and six blocks... carried a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

2023-24 (Freshman)
Did not play and utilized a redshirt season.

Before FLC
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.

Personal
Son of Stephanie Pitka... has two siblings... undecided on his major at FLC.

Career Highs
Minutes: 35, x2, last at Westminster (1/11/25)
Points: 23 at Colorado Mesa, RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/4/25)
Rebounds: 9 vs. Western New Mexico (11/15/24)
Assists: 4 at Colorado Mesa, RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/4/25)
Steals: 7 at #12/13 Colorado School of Mines (1/30/25)
Blocks: 1, x6, last vs. Regis, RMAC Tournament Semifinals (3/7/25)
Field Goals Made: 9 at Colorado Mesa, RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/4/25)
Field Goals Attempted: 12 at Colorado Mesa, RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/4/25)
3-Field Goals Made: 4 at Colorado Mesa, RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/4/25)
3-Field Goals Attempted: 7 at Adams State (12/12/24)
Free Throws Made: 5 vs. Adams State (2/4/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 6, x2, last vs. CSU Pueblo (2/20/25)

#2 Jude Tapia (Sr., 5'11", 175 lbs, Albuquerque, N.M. / Albuquerque / Adams State University)

Before FLC
Tapia played two seasons (2023-25) for the Skyhawks' arch-rival Grizzlies at Adams State University (NCAA DII)... named Second-Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2024-25 after leading the RMAC and ranking 94th in NCAA Division II in scoring (17.4 pts/game), ranking first in the conference and 7th in DII in 3-field goals per game (3.46), and second in the RMAC and 17th in DII in 3-field goal shooting percentage (43.1 percent)... as a junior Tapia boasted a final line of 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game firing at clips ofg 45.3 percent (164-362) from the field, 43.1 percent (97-225) from beyond the arc, and 81.8 percent (63-77) at the free throw line... also made 25 starts across his 28 games played for 898 minutes (32.1 mins/game) on the floor... twice went for 30+ points, including a career-high 36-point performance at Midwestern State (Nov. 16), in which Tapia went 13-29 from the floor and 8-17 from the 3-point line while also tallying three rebounds, five assists, and a steal... scored 20+ points on 12 occasions... also named First-Team Academic All-RMAC and to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Teams... was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week for back-to-back weeks (Nov. 12, Nov. 18) to open the season... as a sophomore Tapia made 10 starts across 19 games played and tallied 373 minutes (19.6 mins/game)... scored 125 points averaging 6.6 points per game alongside 30 rebounds (1.6 rebs/game), 19 assists (1.0 asts/game), 18 steals (0.9 stls/game)... shot 40.6 percent (43-106) from the floor, 37.9 percent (22-58) from deep, and 68.0 percent (17-25) at the charity stripe... across his 47 games played and 35 starts at ASU, Tapia totaled 613 points (13.0 pts/game), 116 rebounds (2.5 rebs/game), 107 assists (2.3 asts/game), 59 steals (1.3 stls/game), and five blocks (0.1 blks/game)... shot 44.2 percent (207-468) from the floor, 42.0 percent (119-283) from the three-point line, and 78.4 percent (80-102) from the free-throw line... played his 2021-22 season with the Plainsmen at Franks Phillips Community College (NJCAA DI)... made seven starts across his 30 games played and tallied 354 minutes (11.8 mins/game)... scored 117 points (3.9 pts/game), grabbed 39 rebounds (1.3 rebs/game), made 45 assists (1.5 asts/game), picked up 12 steals (0.4 stls/game), and made one block... shot 38.0 percent (41-108) from the field, 33.8 percent (23-68) from the three-point line, and 80.0 percent (12-15) at the free-throw line... was a four-year varsity standout at Albuquerque High School... twice named the District Player of the Year as well as First-Team All-State... scored a career-high 54 points in a contest as a junior... also played for the Colorado Miners club team.

Personal
Born October 13, 2001... son of Cristina and Nate Tapia... has three siblings, Olivbia, Robert, and fellow Skyhawks women's soccer player Abila... enjoys biking, playing golf, and listening to a variety of music genres... favorite foods include fruits and breakfast burritos... intends on majoring in Business while at FLC... when asked his favorite part of Fort Lewis, Tapia shared, "the town of Durango!"

Career Highs
Minutes: 47 at Midwestern State (11/16/2024)
Points: 36 at Midwestern State (11/16/2024)
Rebounds: 8 vs. New Mexico Highlands (2/6/2025)
Assists: 6 vs. Western Colorado (2/13/2025)
Steals: 4, x2, last at Northwestern Oklahoma State (11/23/2024)
Blocks: 1, x5, last at Chadron State (3/1/2025)
Field Goals Attempted: 29 at Midwestern State (11/16/2024)
Field Goals Made: 13 at Midwestern State (11/16/2024)
3-Field Goals Attempted: 17 at Midwestern State (11/16/2024)
3-Field Goals Made: 9 at Colorado Christian (1/25/2025)
Free Throws Attempted: 14 vs. CSU Pueblo (2/22/2025)
Free Throws Made: 12 vs. CSU Pueblo (2/22/2025)

#3 Nate Penney (R-So., 6'3", 180 lbs, Sparks, Nev. / Spanish Springs High School)

2024-25 (Redshirt Freshman)
Penney hit the ground running as a redshirt freshman, playing in 24 games for the Skyhawks and making his first and only collegiate start against Northern New Mexico (Nov. 16)... totaled 136 minutes on the hardwood (5.7 mins/game)... had a career-game against South Dakota Mines (Jan. 16), setting career-highs in minutes (17), field goals made (4), field goal attempts (6), three-point field goals made (2), three-point field goal attempts (3), and steals (2)... scored a career-high 11 points against Adams State (Feb. 4) on the back of a career-high nine made free throws through ten attempts... also hauled in a career-best six rebounds against the Grizzlies... totaled 30 points (1.3 pts/game), 21 rebounds (0.9 rebs/game), six steals, and five assists... shot 46.7 percent (7-15) from the field, 44.4 percent (4-9) from the three-point line, and 85.7 percent (12-14) at the free throw line.

2023-24 (Freshman)
Did not play and utilized a redshirt season to retain a season of eligibility.

Before FLC
Came to Fort Lewis 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.

Personal
Born April 6, 2005...son of Kyle and Katie Penney... has two siblings, Jake - a member of the Fort Lewis football team - and Jaden... enjoys playing golf and socializing with friends outside of basketball... intends on majoring in Business Administration at FLC.

Career Highs
Minutes: 17 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
Points: 11 vs. Adams State (2/4/25)
Rebounds: 6 vs. Adams State (2/4/25)
Assists: 1, x5, last at South Dakota Mines (3/1/25)
Steals: 2 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
Blocks: N/A
Field Goals Made: 4 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
Field Goal Attempts: 6 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
3-Field Goals Made: 2 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
3-Field Goal Attempts: 3 vs. South Dakota Mines (1/16/25)
Free Throws Made: 9 vs. Adams State (2/4/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 10 vs. Adams State (2/4/25)

#4 Daniel Steverson (Fr., 6'3", 188 lbs, Rio Rancho, N.M. / Cleveland High School)

Before FLC
Steverson Jr. graduated from Cleveland High School as one of the best players in school history... set the Thunderbolts all-time scoring record with 2,220 career points, including a career-high 45 points in a single game... helped guide Cleveland to the 2021 New Mexico 5A Boys Basketball State Championship with a 55-49 victory over Las Cruces... twice tabbed the runner-up for the New Mexico State Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year... named both the District Player of the Year and District Defensive Player of the Year... three-time All-State and All-Metro honoree... four-time All-Academic award winner... also once dished out a career-high 12 assists in a game.

Personal
Born November 28, 2005... son of Janell and Daniel Steverson... spends his spare time journaling, reading, hiking, or playing video games... enjoys listening to musical artists Ken Carson, Drake, Pink Pantheress, Percaso, Franko Ocean, Laufey, and Destroy Lonely... favorite foods include soul food, seafood boils, and chicken Alfredo... when asked his favorite part of Fort Lewis, Steverson Jr. shared, "the beautiful views and the basketball program."... intends on majoring in Business and Psychology while at FLC. 

#5 Yorgio Golesis (Jr., 6'1", 180 lbs, Salt Lake City, Utah / Skyline / Oklahoma City University)

Before FLC
Golesis spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as a member of the Oklahoma City University Stars (NAIA)... compiled a 20-36 overall record and 14-32 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference... made 43 starts across his 44 games played registering 1,395 minutes on the floor (31.7 min/game)... racked up 512 career points (11.6 pts/game) on career shooting clips of 35.7 percent (173-484) from the field, 32.3 percent (31-96) from the 3-point line, and 73.0 percent (135-185) at the free-throw line... was an athletic guard on both ends of the floor pulling down 151 rebounds (3.4 rebs/game), including 37 offensive and 114 defensive, while dishing out 184 assists (4.2 asts/game) and grabbing 42 steals (0.95 stls/game)... also blocked five shots... posted double-digit scoring efforts in 31 games and scored 20+ points on five occasions, including a pair of career-high 23-point performances in a win against NAIA No. 1-ranked Langton University (Nov. 21, 2024) and a loss at Nelson University (Jan. 4, 2024)... posted his first career double-double with 19 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, and two steals against John Brown University (Ark.) (Nov. 26, 2024)... was named the SAC Freshman of the Year and to the SAC All-Freshman Team in 2023-24... was a four-year standout at Skyline High School... thrice earned First-Team All-Region accolades in addition to being named Second-Team All-State... was a three-time Most Valuable Player for the Eagles... scored 1,286 points across his high school career.

Personal
Born November 23, 2004... son of Margaret and Dimitri Golesis... has two siblings, Nico and Areti... outside of basketball, he enjoys playing video games, bowling, golfing, and hiking... favorite food is salmon and rice... favorite musical artist is Drake... intends on majoring in Business while at FLC... when asked his favorite part about Fort Lewis, Golesis shared, "the coaching staff and campus." 

Career Highs
Minutes: 42 vs. Southwestern Christian University (1/11/2025)
Points: 23, x2, last vs. No. 1 Langston University (11/21/2024)
Rebounds: 9 vs. (RV) Nelson University (Texas) (11/14/2024)
Assists: 12 vs. John Brown University (Ark.) (11/26/2024)
Steals: 5 vs. Northern New Mexico College (11/04/2023)
Blocks: 1, x5, last at No. 18 Langston University (1/30/2025)
Field Goals Attempted: 18 at Nelson University (Texas) (1/04/2024)
Field Goals Made: 10, x2, last at College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (1/6/2025)
3-Field Goals Attempted: 6 at No. 18 Langston University (1/30/2025)
3-Field Goals Made: 3, x2, last at (RV) Texas Wesleyan University (2/17/2025)
Free Throws Attempted: 11 vs. No. 1 Langston University (11/21/2024)
Free Throws Made: 7, x4, last vs. John Brown University (Ark.) (11/26/2024)

#12 Donald Bangham, Jr. (Jr., 6'5", 195 lbs, Kansas City, Mo. / Ruskin / Johnson County Community College)

Before FLC
Bangham Jr. made his way to Durango after spending the 2024-25 season with the Indians at Chipola College (NJCAA DI)... made ten starts across his 31 games played en route to helping the Indians to a 24-8 overall record, 9-3 mark in conference play, and an appearance in the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship... averaged 6.4 points (197 pts), 3.5 rebounds (108 rebs), and 1.3 assists per game (40 asts) while firing at clips of 37.5 percent (69-184) from the field, 27.8 percent from deep (25-90), and 65.4 percent (34-52) at the free throw line... totaled 534 minutes (17.,2 mins/game) on the hardwood at Chipola... also grabbed 38 steals (1.2 stls/game) and blocked five shots... began his collegiate career with the Cavaliers at Johnson County Community College (NJCAA DII)... utilized a redshirt season in 2022-23... in 2023-24, made 21 starts across 31 games played for JCCC... helped the Cavaliers to a District Championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament... averaged 12.3 points (382 pts), 4.9 rebounds (151 rebs), and 1.4 assists (42 asts) per game while shooting 51.2 percent (145-283) from the floor, 34.4 percent (31-90) from the three-point line, and 71.8 percent (61-85) at the free throw line... was the squad's fourth-leading scorer... tallied 636 (20.5 mins/game) on the floor... also made 44 steals (1.4 stls/game) and blocked 16 shots... tied for the sixth-most three-point field goals in a single-game (7 on Mar. 20, 2024 vs. Macomb) in program-history was a four-year member of the Ruskin High School Eagles basketball team... earned All-State and First-Team All-Conference accolades... voted team captain.

Personal
Born June 19, 2004... son of Kira and Donald Bangham... has four siblings... enjoys life around basketball... favorite musical artist is NBA Youngboy and his favorite food is gumbo.

Career Highs
Minutes: 30, x3, last at Wake Technical Community College (11/15/2024)
Points: 29, x2, last vs. Macomb Community College (3/20/2024)
Rebounds: 9, x3, last vs. Tallahassee State College (2/8/2025)
Assists: 6 vs. #8 Northwest Florida State College (1/25/2025)
Steals: 4, x5, last vs. #21 Pensacola State College (2/1/2025)
Blocks: 4 vs. Hesston College (1/31/2024)
Field Goals Made: 13 vs. Southeast Community College (11/14/2023)
Field Goals Attempted: 17, x2, last at Metropolitan Community College (12/9/2023)
3-Field Goals Made: 7 vs. Macomb Community College (3/20/2024)
3-Field Goals Attempted: 9 vs. Macomb Community College (3/20/2024)
Free Throws Made: 8 vs. Highland Community College (Kan.) (3/8/2024)
Free Throw Attempts: 10 vs. Highland Community College (Kan.) (3/8/2024)

#15 Ty Yoder (Fr., 5'11", 165 lbs, Fort Collins, Colo. / Resurrection Christian School)

Before FLC
Yoder enjoyed a decorated career at Resurrection Christian School and led the Cougars to three state championship appearances, including back-to-back 4A and 3A State Championships in 2024 and 2025, respectively... boasted a 95-13 career record with the Cougars... capped his time at Resurrection Christian with a perfect 28-0 senior campaign that included a 42-game winning streak dating back to 2024... honored as the Colorado 3A Boys basketball Player of the Year in 2025... three-time First-Team All-State selection... four-time First-Team All-Conference honoree... twice named the Conference Player of the Year... voted team captain all four years... two-time Reporter Herald Player of the Year... also an All-State Honorable Mention... twice scored 30 points in a game... had a career-high 13 assists in a single game... scored 1,631 career points... ranks first all-time in career assists (537), single-season assists (161), and assists-per-game (5.03).

Personal
Born December 21, 2005... son of Erika and Ryan Yoder... has three siblings, Luke, Macy, and Will... enjoys learning about history, paddle-boarding, and playing spikeball and soccer... listens to a mix of Christian, country, rap, and 80's music... favorite foods including steak, burgers, lobster, and shrimp... intends on majoring in Business while at FLC. 

#22 Noah Hellem (R-Fr., 5'10", 185 lbs, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Air Academy High School)

2024-25 (Freshman)
Did not see the floor... utilized a redshirt season to retain a year of eligibility.

Before FLC
Hellem came 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.

Personal
Born April 21, 2005... son to Aimee and Rob Hellem... has one sibling, Ben... enjoys hanging out with family, reading, hiking, listening to Travis Scott and Bob Marley, eating tacos, and doing graphic design... intends on majoring in Business Administration while at FLC... when asked about what his favorite part of Fort Lewis was, Hellem shared, "The quality of education, the beauty of the campus, and the competitiveness of the basketball team."

Forwards

A returning Second-Team All-RMAC selection is bolstered with two veterans, a weathered Division I product, and a talented freshman.

(Year, Height, Weight, Hometown, State, High School, Previous School)

#10 Cassius Carmichael (Sr., 6'5", 190 lbs, Glendale, Ariz. / Ironwood / College of Southern Idaho)

2024-25 (Junior)
RMAC Defensive Player of the Week (Feb. 3, Feb. 24)
Carmichael jumped right into the Skyhawks lineup, notching 20 starts across his 31 games played with 708 total minutes (22.8 mins/game) on the floor... was the squad's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder averaging 7.0 points (217 pts) and 4.1 rebounds (127 rebs) per game... also nabbed the fourth-most steals (50 stls), averaging 1.6 steals per game, a mark that ranked fifth in the RMAC and helped Carmichael to two RMAC Defensive Player of the Week nods on Feb. 3 and Feb. 24... went for a career-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting on the road in a critical win over #23/25 MSU Denver (Feb. 1)... scored in double-figures seven times... shot 51.2 percent (86-168) from the field, which ranked second among Skyhawks with 20+ attempts, 41.4 percent (12-29) from the three-point line, and 55.9 percent (33-59) at the free throw line... handed out 35 assists and blocked 19 shots.

Before FLC
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.

Personal
Born March 7, 2001... son of Barbie and Gerrard Carmichael... has three siblings, Cody, Colton, and Cassidy... enjoys listening to Michael Jackson, Chinese food, and hanging out with his wife... when asked what he enjoyed most about FLC, Carmichael shared, "I love the mountains and scenery that Durango provides." 

Career Highs
Minutes: 33 at Westminster (1/11/25)
Points: 18 at #23/25 MSU Denver (2/1/25)
Rebounds: 7, x2, last at New Mexico Highlands (2/8/25)
Assists: 3, x3, last at Westminster (1/11/25)
Steals: 4 vs. Western Colorado (2/16/25)
Blocks: 4 vs. Colorado Mesa (2/13/25)
Field Goals Made: 7 at #23/25 MSU Denver (2/1/25)
Field Goal Attempts: 9 vs. Colorado Mesa (2/13/25)
3-Field Goals Made: 2, x2, last at Colorado Mesa (3/4/25)
3-Field Goal Attempts: 3, x2, last vs. Regis (3/7/25)
Free Throws Made: 4 at New Mexico Highlands (2/8/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 6, x2, last at #23/25 MSU Denver (2/1/25)

#11 Chuol Deng (Sr., 6'7", 208 lbs, Juba, South Sudan / The Skills Factory / Oakland University)

2024-25 (Senior)
Second-Team All-RMAC
RMAC All-Tournament Team 
Deng was a crucial figure for the Skyhawks, making 27 starts across his 31 games played... was Fort Lewis' second-leading scorer and leading rebounder with 13.4 points (416 pts) and 7.9 rebounds (245 rebs) per game... shot 40.1 percent (139-347) from the field, 32.5 percent (49-151) from the three-point line, and 74.2 percent (89-120) at the free throw line... posted nine double-doubles throughout the season, the second-most in the RMAC, including a monstrous 16-point, 21-rebound double-double in the RMAC Tournament Semifinal against Regis (Mar. 7)... his 21 rebounds were the eighth-most by any player in DII in 2024-25, and six more than any player in the RMAC through the year, as well as the third-most in program history... exploded for a career-high 30 points, tied for the ninth-most by a player in the RMAC for the season, to help the Skyhawks overcome UCCS (Jan. 25) 87-84 in its final possession... scored in double-figures on 21 occasions with five games scoring 20+ points... tabbed the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 25 after amassing 21 rebounds, 16 points, three blocks, and two assists across a pair of wins over Emporia State (Nov. 22) and Bowie State (Nov. 23)... supplied 25 points, 29 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, two steals, in the RMAC Tournament en route to a nod to the RMAC All-Tournament Team... finished the season third in the RMAC in rebounding, fifth in total blocks (30), 13th in steals per game at 1.3 (40 stls), 17th in scoring... handed out 35 assists... also named Second-Team All-RMAC.

Prior to FLC: 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.

Personal
Born July 26, 2001... son of Angeline Deng... has one sibling, Kuok... enjoys hiking, having picnics, watching movies, cooking, and listening to artists such as Afro Beats, Dancehall, and other pop and hip hop artists... favorite foods include pasta, chicken, and rice... intends on majoring in Health Sciences while at FLC... when asked about his favorite part of Fort Lewis, Deng shared, "The beautiful campus!" 

Career Highs
Minutes: 39 at Westminster (1/11/25)
Double-Doubles: 9, last vs. Regis (3/7/25)
Points: 30 at UCCS (1/25/25)
Rebounds: 21 vs. Regis (3/7/25)
Assists: 5 at Chadron State (2/27/25)
Steals: 4 vs. (RV) Point Loma (11/2/24)
Blocks: 6 vs. New Mexico Highlands (12/10/24)
Field Goals Made: 12 at UCCS (1/25/25)
Field Goal Attempts: 20 at UCCS (1/25/25)
3-Field Goals Made: 4, x3, last vs. CSU Pueblo (2/20/25)
3-Field Goal Attempts: 9 vs. Northern New Mexico (11/16/24)
Free Throws Made: 12 vs. Western Colorado (2/16/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 14 vs. Western Colorado (2/16/25)

#13 Keither Florence (Sr., 6'7", 205 lbs, Sedgwick, Kan. / Haysville / Northwest Kansas Technical College)

2024-25 (Junior)
Florence was a key contributor for Fort Lewis in 2024-25, making 15 starts and playing in 29 total games with 460 minutes (15.9 mins/game) on the hardwood... scored 176 points (6.1 pts/game) and hauled in 98 rebounds (3.4 rebs/game)... finished third on the roster with 14 blocked shots while also making 15 assists and nabbing 25 steals... led the Skyhawks with a 53.4 percent (70-131) shooting percentage from the floor while also firing at 37.5 percent (3-8) from the three-point line and 68.8 percent (33-48) at the free throw line... scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting to lead Fort Lewis to a 71-62 win over Western New Mexico (Nov. 15)... grabbed seven rebounds, blocked one shot, and made a team-high three steals in the Skyhawks historic 74-38 win at Colorado Christian (Jan. 23), marking the fewest points allowed in program history against an NCAA opponent... twice made four steals in a single-game.

Before FLC
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.

Personal
Born January 19, 2003... son of Tesha Florence... has three siblings... enjoys playing games, being outside, and listening to artists like Future... favorite food is wings... intends on majoring in Business Entrepreneurship while at FLC... when asked his favorite aspect of Fort Lewis, Florence shared, "the campus and local environment." 

Career Highs
Minutes: 30 at South Dakota Mines (3/1/25)
Points: 18 vs. Western New Mexico (11/15/24)
Rebounds: 7, x2, last at Colorado Christian (1/23/25)
Assists: 2, x2, last vs. Bowie State (11/23/24)
Steals: 4, x2, last at South Dakota Mines (3/1/25)
Blocks: 3 at Colorado Christian (1/23/25)
Field Goals Made: 8 at #12/13 Colorado School of Mines (1/30/25)
Field Goal Attempts: 10 at #12/13 Colorado School of Mines (1/30/25)
3-Field Goals Made: 1, x3, last at #12/13 Colorado School of Mines (1/30/25)
3-Field Goal Attempts: 2 vs. (RV) Point Loma (11/2/24)
Free Throws Made: 4 at Western Colorado (1/9/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 6 vs. Bowie State (11/23/24)

#14 Massal Diouf (Sr., 6'9", 245 lbs, Gouda, Neatherlands / The Athenian / Western Illinois University)

Before FLC
Diouf most recently spent the 2024-25 season with Western Illinois University (NCAA DI) where he helped the Leathernecks to a 12-19 overall record... made 12 starts and played in 22 games for a total of 266 minutes (12.1 mins/game) on the hardwood... scored 69 points (3.1 pts/game), hauled in 61 rebounds (2.8 rebs/game), made eight assists, blocked eight shots, and nabbed six steals... shot 50.8 percent (30-59) from the floor and 34.6 percent (9-26) at the free throw line... went for a career-high 14 points against Eastern Illinois (Jan. 30)... began his collegiate career at the University of Texas at San Antonio (NCAA DI), spending two seasons there... helped the Roadrunners earn an appearance in the Conference USA Tournament in 2022-23 and the American Athletic Conference Tournament in 2023-24... made his collegiate debut with five minutes on the floor against Trinity University (Nov. 7, 2022)... registered 21 starts in 59 career games played for the Roadrunners... tallied 650 career minutes (11.0 mins/game) with UTSA... scored 146 points (2.5 pts/game), grabbed 162 rebounds (2.7 rebs/game), made 10 assists, grabbed eight steals, and blocked 24 shots... fired at clips of 55.6 percent (60-108) from the field and 54.2 percent (26-48) at the free throw line for the Roadrunners... member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll... prepped at Western Canada Prep Academy... also played for ther U-16 and U-18 Dutch National Teams... garnered Canadian Junior Basketball First-Team All-Star honors aftering leading Western Canada to a 27-13 overall record... in the Tarkanian Classic, Diouf averaged 24 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks per game in a 3-1 finish, with a pair of 30-point, 20-rebound games... shot 55 percent from the field as a senior for Western Canada and 31 percent from 3-point range... Diouf was ranked as a four-leaf recruit by West Brown's Monday Morning Scouting Report.

Personal
Born March 14, 2003... son of Annemarie and Alioune Diouf... has two siblings, Latif and Seal... enjoys cycling and listening to music, including his favorite artist, J. Cole... favorite food is anything his father cooks... intends on majoring in Health Sciences while at FLC.

Career Highs
Minutes: 27 vs. University of Arkansas Little Rock (1/23/25)
Points: 14 vs. Eastern Illinois University (1/30/25)
Rebounds: 8, x2, last at Tennessee Tech University (2/27/25)
Assists: 2, x2, last vs. Southeast Missouri State University (1/25/25)
Steals: 2 vs. Florida Atlantic University (1/21/24)
Blocks: 4 at Oregon State University (12/17/23)
Field Goals Made: 5, x4, last vs. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2/1/25)
Field Goals Attempted: 10 vs. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2/1/25)
3-Field Goals Made: N/A
3-Field Goals Attempted: N/A
Free Throws Made: 4, x2, last vs. Eastern Illinois University (1/30/25)
Free Throw Attempts: 6, x2, last vs. Eastern Illinois University (1/30/25)

#21 Garrett Barger (Fr., 6'9", 210 lbs, Centennial, Colo. / Eaglecrest High School)

Before FLC
Barger earned four varsity letters for the Raptors at Eaglecrest High School as both a forward and center... helped the Raptors capture the 2024-25 Colorado 6A Boys Basketball State Championship in a 65-63 victory over defending champion Valor Christian... Barger registered the second-most points on the roster in the title game with 12... named First-Team All-Colorado, Second-Team All-State, and First-Team All-Conference... was also voted team captain... boasts a career-best 20-point, 19-rebound double-double... finished his high school career with an 80-25 overall record.

Personal
Born September 28, 2006... son of Leanne Macres... has one sibling, Tristan... enjoys photography, cars, and cooking... favorite artists include Lil Baby and Bryson Tiller... favorite food is enchiladas... when asked his favorite part of Fort Lewis, Barger shared, "Durango itself and the beautiful location."... intends on majoring in Business while at FLC. 

Meet the Coaching Staff

Jordan Mast - Head Coach

Jordan Mast will embark on his second season as the Skyhawks' head coach in 2025-26. 

In his first season at the helm, Mast made quite the impression on the Fort Lewis faithful, maintaining the Skyhawks' winning standard and taking an entirely new roster to a 19-12 overall record and a 12-8 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Skyhawks opened the year at the prestigious Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, marking the program's first-ever appearance, and later made a run to the second round of the 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament. 

Despite a new look, Fort Lewis' game plan remained the same: score at a high level and force turnovers. Mast improved on the Skyhawks' full-court press, guiding the team to average 12.5 steals, 19.35 turnovers forced, and a +6.9 turnover margin, marks that rank second, sixth, and seventh across all of NCAA Division II. In addition, the Skyhawks dominated the RMAC, forcing 19.8 turnovers, grabbing 13.25 steals, and boasting a +8.6 turnover margin in conference play. 

Offensively, Mast's squad backed itself up on the opposite end of the court, scoring the third-most points per game (79.1) in the RMAC with the league's fourth-best scoring margin (+5.4). In just his first season, Mast led Fort Lewis to a pair of signature wins on the road over No. 23/25 MSU Denver, 81-74, and at home over south-central region powerhouse No. 8/4 West Texas A&M, 76-69. The season came to a close in the semifinals of the conference tournament, but not before the Skyhawks went on the road and dominated Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa 89-65 in the opening round up in Grand Junction, Colo. 

At the end of the season, three Skyhawks were tabbed with All-RMAC honors. Fifth-year guard Biko Johnson, who ranked second in the RMAC in scoring (16.3 pts/game), led the trio with First-Team honors, while Chuol Deng and Tru Allen picked up Second-Team and Honorable Mention honors, respectively. Additionally, Fort Lewis continued to pack out Whalen Gymnasium, ranking 12th in Division II in attendance. 

Mast came 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. In his final season with the Pioneers, Mast's team swept the Cal Pac regular season and conference tournament titles, assuring a berth in the NAIA postseason. However, the postseason would take place following the closing of Antelope Valley University on March 4. Mast and company wouldn't be denied, crowdfunding nearly $40,000, including a large donation from Chegg, an education technology company located in California, to ensure the Pioneers got their chance on the national stage. 

Before taking the reins 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 Caltech, 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, Ore., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 2010.

James Jansen - Associate Head Coach

The 2025-26 campaign will mark the second season with Jansen on staff with the Skyhawks. 

Jansen faced quite the challenge in his first season with the program: rebuild a new roster around a trio of redshirts while staying competitive in a challenging Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Skyhawks faced the test head-on and maintained success in Durango. Jansen helped guide a full-court press that averaged 12.5 steals, 19.35 turnovers forced, and a +6.9 turnover margin, marks that rank second, sixth, and seventh across all of NCAA Division II. In addition, the Skyhawks dominated the RMAC, forcing 19.8 turnovers, grabbing 13.25 steals, and boasting a +8.6 turnover margin in conference play. 

Offensively, Fort Lewis scored the third-most points per game (79.1) in the RMAC with the league's fourth-best scoring margin (+5.4). The Skyhawks also battled to a pair of signature wins on the road over No. 23/25 MSU Denver, 81-74, and at home over south-central region powerhouse No. 8/4 West Texas A&M, 76-69. The season came to a close in the semifinals of the conference tournament, but not before the Skyhawks went on the road and dominated Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa 89-65 in the opening round up in Grand Junction, Colo. 

At the end of the season, three Skyhawks were tabbed with All-RMAC honors. Fifth-year guard Biko Johnson, who ranked second in the RMAC in scoring (16.3 pts/game), led the trio with First-Team honors, while Chuol Deng and Tru Allen picked up Second-Team and Honorable Mention honors, respectively. Additionally, Fort Lewis continued to pack out Whalen Gymnasium, ranking 12th in Division II in attendance. 

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 Master's in Sports & Athletic Administration at Concordia University Irvine (2018). Jansen is joined in Durango by his wife, Ashlee, and their four kids.  

Jeff Evans - Assistant Coach

Jeff Evans returned to Fort Lewis and the Durango community in the summer of 2025, marking his first season on staff with head coach Jordan Mast and his second overall with the Skyhawks in the past three years.

Evans brings 34 years of coaching experience to Durango, most recently spending the 2024-25 season with the Hilltoppers at St. Edward's University (NCAA Division II) down in Austin, Texas. While at SEU, the Hilltoppers compiled a 21-13 overall record and a 14-8 mark in Lone Star Conference play, including a signature 84-71 victory over No. 8 West Texas A&M to keep their postseason hopes alive.

St. Edward's made a short run through the LSC Conference Tournament, besting St. Mary's in the opening round before a second-round exit at the hands of Dallas Baptist, who later made a run to the Division II Final Four. The Hilltoppers' success was enough to earn the fifth overall seed in the NCAA South Central Region, marking the program's first return to the NCAA postseason since the 2019-20 season. In addition, St. Edward's boasted four All-LSC honorees, including Gavino Ramos (Second-Team), Lewis Rowe (Second-Team), Jamison Kay (Honorable Mention), and Sam McKinney (Freshman-Team).

Evans made his collegiate debut during his first stint with the Skyhawks in 2023-24. With Evans leading Fort Lewis' high-pressure full-court defense, the Skyhawks ran off to a 29-4 overall record and a 20-2 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. After finishing one game shy of the regular season championship, FLC went on to defend its RMAC Tournament title on the home floor of Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa, downing the Mavericks 86-75 in the title game to win the program's second-straight RMAC Tournament Championship and the program's eighth overall.

Fort Lewis made its second-straight appearance in the NCAA South Central Regional and captured an 86-72 win over Lubbock Christian in the opening round before narrowly falling to the Mavericks in the Round of 32. The Skyhawks set a program record in 2023-24, rising to No. 3 on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 Poll. At the end of the campaign, four Skyhawks were named to the All-RMAC teams, including Obi Agbim (First-Team), Malik Whitaker (First-Team), Junior Garbrah (Second-Team), and Brayden Carter (Second-Team). In addition, Agbim was later named First-Team All-South Central Region by the NABC and Second-Team All-South Central Region by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

Before joining the collegiate ranks, Evans spent 23 years as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas. An educator by trade, Evans also served Palo Duro as a 12th-grade English teacher and Physical Education instructor.

Over his three decades of coaching, Evans has compiled a decorated resume. Boasting a 609-212 career record, Evans has tallied numerous coaching honors over the years and has even appeared in the Texas Coach Magazine and Chalk Talk Publications.

Owning a 546-156 record at Palo Duro, Evans has guided the Dons to a 220-50 district record, 49 playoff wins, 12 district championships, seven regional tournaments, five regional finals, and an appearance in the State Tournament Final Four.

Palo Duro has made 24 playoff appearances, including 22 consecutive trips from 2002-2023. Additionally, Evans led the Dons to a series of 84 consecutive home wins from 2002-2010 alongside nine consecutive District Championships from 2003-2011.

Evans' success spans beyond the high school level as he has demonstrated a tremendous ability to guide his players to the collegiate level. Over the years, Evans has lifted 58 to the collegiate basketball ranks, including seven NCAA Division I signees, three of which went to the Big 12, three national scoring leaders, and even Fort Lewis' fifth-all-time leading scorer and the program's first player to earn National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-American honors, Akuel Kot.

Before Palo Duro, Evans had coaching stops as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas, from 1996-2000 and as an Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas, from 1991-1996.

Evans earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an English teaching field from Texas Tech University in 1990 and later completed his Master of Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.

Tyler Chisholm - Director of Basketball Operations

Chisholm, a two-year member of Mast's coaching staff at Antelope Valley, joined the Skyhawks in the summer of 2024. The 2025-26 season will be his second on staff for Fort Lewis.

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 and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year in the same season, returned to his Alma Mater as a volunteer assistant coach in the summer of 2024. The 2025-26 season will mark his second on staff for the Skyhawks. 

In 2024-25, Blaylock assisted a first-year coaching staff that maintained the program's winning ways, carrying a 19-12 overall record and a 12-8 mark in RMAC play, earning a trip back to the RMAC Tournament. The Skyhawks routed Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa 89-65 on the road in the opening round before falling to Regis 69-62 in the RMAC Tournament Semifinals. On a national scale, Fort Lewis ranked second in steals per game (12.5), sixth in turnovers forced per game (19.35), and seventh in turnover margin (+6.9) across all of NCAA Division II. Three Skyhawks later garnered All-RMAC honors, including Biko Johnson (First-Team), Chuol Deng (Second-Team), and Tru Allen (Honorable Mention).

Most notably, Blaylock is remembered by the Skyhawks faithful for knocking down a pair of free throws in the 2016 RMAC 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), a three-time First-Team All-Region selection, a 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. 

Jim Wilkinson - Volunteer Assistant Coach

Jim Wilkinson will embark on his fourth season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Skyhawks in 2025-26. 

In 2024-25, Wilkinson assisted first-year head coach Jordan Mast, helping the Skyhawks to a 19-12 overall record and a 12-8 mark in RMAC play, and earning a trip back to the RMAC Tournament. The Skyhawks routed Western Slope rival Colorado Mesa 89-65 on the road in the opening round before falling to Regis 69-62 in the RMAC Tournament Semifinals. On a national scale, Fort Lewis ranked second in steals per game (12.5), sixth in turnovers forced per game (19.35), and seventh in turnover margin (+6.9) across all of NCAA Division II. Three Skyhawks later garnered All-RMAC honors, including Biko Johnson (First-Team), Chuol Deng (Second-Team), and Tru Allen (Honorable Mention).

In his first two seasons at Fort Lewis, Wilkinson aided the Skyhawks through one of their 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 Pennsylvania high school coach for 30 years, Wilkinson compiled a 540-120 overall record across his seven years with Wilkington High School in Pittsburgh and his 23 years with Adington High School in Philadelphia. Wilkinson is now retired and enjoys life in Durango with his wife. 

Mike Brown - Assistant Coach

Brown, a proud Fort Lewis men's basketball alum, embarks on his first season as a member of the coaching staff. 

Dayson Dush - Graduate Assistant

Dush is in his first season assisting the Skyhawks men's basketball team.

Walley Descheeny - Student Manager

Descheeny is entering his second season helping the Fort Lewis men's basketball team with various responsibilities. 

Charli Boatman - Student Manager

Boatman enters her first season helping the Fort Lewis men's basketball team with various responsibilities. 

Giana Roybal - Student Manager

Roybal enters her first season helping the Fort Lewis men's basketball team with various responsibilities.  

National Association of Basketball Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll

RMAC Men's Basketball Statistics

NCAA Men's Basketball Statistics