Brian Fish just completed his second season as the head men’s basketball coach at Montana State. He wasted no time hitting the recruiting trail as he continues to rebuild the Bobcats.
Fish and assistant Chris Haslam went from Reno, Nevada — the site of the recently completed Big Sky Conference Tournament — to directly to a junior college tournament to watch a handful of potential recruits compete.
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Fish’s Bobcats turned the corner in 2016, finishing with a 14-17 mark, a seven-win improvement from his first season. But the season ended in a disappointing fashion as MSU lost to Sacramento State in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament.
The Bobcats lose All-Big Sky point guard Marcus Colbert and senior captain Danny Robison to graduation. Fish also has an open spot because of Steph Holm’s departure during the season. The Bobcats are currently recruiting five junior college players to help fill out the roster. Junior center Shy Blake and sophomore forward Quinn Price each suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2016 and have uncertain statuses moving forward.
Fish said his roster is constantly in flux and performance based.
The Bobcats signed prep prospects forward Devon Kirby of Basha High in Chandler Arizona and point guard Harold Frey of Oslo, Norway during the early period in the fall.
Montana State received verbal commitments from Saddleback Community College combo guard Devonte Klines and Miami Dade College swingman Joe Mvuezolo earlier this week.
Here’s a closer look at Montana State’s upcoming recruiting class.
SIGNED
Devin Kirby, Basha High, forward, 6-10, 205 — Before suffering a gruesome injury to both his legs that ended his junior season, Kirby received high major interest. His brother played for two seasons at Virginia Tech and Kirby heard from the Big XII and the ACC.
Kirby spent almost two months in a wheelchair after dislocating both knees and fracturing the tibias in both legs. Kirby suffered the injury attempting and alley-oop dunk against Gilbert Perry High in the first quarter of the championship game at the McClintock Holiday Basketball Shootout.
During his senior year at Basha, Kirby bounced back to contribute. He scored in double figures seven times in 18 games, including a season-high 15 in a 39-point win over Tempe. All told his senior year, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Kirby is a major project but his elite height and smooth athleticism gives him major upside.
Kirby may redshirt next season. If he is ready for the college game, he may challenge for time in MSU’s rotation, battling senior-to-be Sarp Gobeloglu and sophomore-to-be Sam Neumann for time at the No. 4 spot.
Harald Frey, Centrum Tigers, Oslo, Norway, point guard, 6-0, 170 — The smooth-shooting, fundamental point guard transitioned to Norway’s top professional league and thrived. In 23 games this season, Frey averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 assists and 2.6 seals as Centrum posted an 18-5 mark. He shot 51.2 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free throw line.
If Frey is ready to handle a team, he could earn major minutes as MSU’s backup point guard. Fish said he will work Tyler Hall in at point guard about 20 minutes per game next season unless Frey and senior-to-be Nahjee Matlock make significant progress. Hall was the Big Sky Freshman of the Year and averaged 19.2 points per game playing opposite Colbert.
COMMITTED
Devonte Klines, Saddleback CC, point guard, 6-1, 175 — Running the point for one of the most elite junior college programs in California, Klines played 23 minutes a game and was solid. He averaged 7.2 points and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 44 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc. He scored in double figures 13 times, including eight of the nine times he played at least 30 minutes. He scored 17 points in a win over Mira Costa for a season high.
Klines, who is a freshman and will have three years to play three, can play the point or off the ball. He will fit into the rotation at the point guard spot along with Frey, Hall and Matlock if he returns. Klines might also see minutes at the No. 2 spot, battling redshirt freshman Mandrell Worthy and Mvuezolo for minutes.
Film: See Here
Joe Mvuezolo, Miami Dade College, small forward, 6-6, 195 — The London native played for Montana State assistant Chris Haslam during his time playing tor Great Britain at the U20 European Championships.
Last season, Mvuezolo earned All-Southern League honors by averaging more than 10 points per game. This season, the stretch shooter is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting just 34.4 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from beyond the arc as he’s seen his minutes dwindle. He scored more than 20 points five times in Dade’s first 15 games but has not scored more than 13 points since.
Mvuezolo will play the No. 2 and No. 3 in Fish’s system. He will challenge Worthy for the starting two-guard spot or senior-to-be Quinton Everett for the starting No. 3 spot. Junior-to-be Zach Green will also challenge for time on the wing with Everett and Mvuezolo.
Film: See Here
OFFERS
Treyvon Andres, Trinidad State JC, power forward, 6-8, 230 — Andres is a powerful, polished low-post scorer unlike anyone Montana State currently has on its roster. The strapping power forward shot 56 percent from the floor and averaged 16.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Andres has scored at least 20 points 10 times, including a season-high 28 points in a win over Eastern Wyoming.
Andres was a 3-star recruit at Jefferson High in Denver but grade issues scared away most Division I schools. He also holds an offer from Loyola-Chicago.
Andres would compete with Kirby, Gobeloglu and Neumann for time at MSU’s No. 4 spot. He can also play the No. 5 spot in Fish’s system, where he would compete with junior-to-be Tyson Kanseyo.
Film: See Here
Terrel Martin-Garcia, Missouri State-West Plains, guard/forward, 6-6, 235 — Martin-Garcia is a strong, burly swingman who can play on the perimeter or in the paint. The Catford, England native has a previous connection with Haslam.
Last season, Martin-Garcia earned second-team All-Region 16 honors. This season, he is averaging 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. He’s scored at least 20 points seven times, including 23 points to go with 10 rebounds in a game last month. He also has six games with at least 10 rebounds, including a season-high of 14.
Film: See Here
Link Kabadyundi, Blinn (Texas) JC, center, 7-1, 240 — The Montreal native played in 15 games as a true freshman at TCU, including six Big XII contests. He blocked 10 shots.
During his sophomore season, he is averaging 8.9 points on 58.1 percent shooting and 11.1 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures six times, including a season high 18 points in his second to last game. He has not played in 13 games for unknown reasons. He has grabbed at least 13 rebounds in a game on nine different occasions with a season-high of 16.
Kabadyundi has known offers from Temple and Nebraska along with Montana State.
If Kabadyundi came to Montana State, he would be MSU’s starting center right away.
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