GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program announced their official recruiting class for the upcoming 2021-22 season on Friday. 

The class features a total of 18 student-athletes that have joined the program. 14 of the newcomers are freshman, while four have transferred from other schools. 15 of the new faces are from Montana, with three coming from Great Falls.

"We are very excited about our new recruits this year," head coach Steve Keller said. "We have the most size and athleticism we have had since I started. Practices are getting more and more competitive every night."

The Argos will begin their season with an exhibition game against Montana State on Oct. 25 in Bozeman. The team will officially begin their season with a home game against Yellowstone Christian on Oct. 29 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Jackson Bredenberg



Bredenberg joins the Argos from Rocky Mountain College. He is originally from Gardiner, Mont., where he played basketball for Gardiner High School. He was named All-Conference in high school.

JP Briney



Briney joins the Argos from Florence, Mont., where he played basketball and golf at Florence-Carlton High School. He averaged 12.8 points per game as a senior and was named 2nd Team All-Conference. He led the team to district and divisional championships as a senior. He was also named Academic All-State as a junior. Briney is also on the Argo men's golf team.

Lucious Brown



Brown joins the Argos from Lane College. He is originally from Tacoma, Wash. where he played basketball for Stadium High School. He was named the Conference MVP, 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Area and 1st Team All-State as a senior. He was also named to the Honor Roll.

Girma Detwiler



Detwiler joins the Argos from Ronan, Mont. where he played football, basketball and track and field at Ronan High School.  

Brandon Finley



Finley joins the Argos from Frenchtown, Mont., where he played football, basketball and track and field at Frenchtown High School. During his career, he was named 1^st Team All-State, 1^st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Conference. He led his team to a 2^nd place finish at Divisionals. He also was named 1^st Team All-State in football and placed 3^rd in Divisionals in track. He was named Academic All-State for all four years in every sport.

Billy Kelly



Kelly joins the Argos from Butte, Mont, where he played basketball, track and field, baseball and football at Butte High School. In basketball, he was named 2^nd Team All-Conference. He was also named 1^st Team All-Conference and 2^nd Team All-State in football, where he led his team to a runner-up finish at state. He was also named Academic All-State.

Chaz LaDue



LaDue joins the Argos from Missoula, Mont., where he played golf, football, basketball and ran track and field at Big Sky High School.

Logan Leck



Leck joins the Argos from Shelby, Mont., where he played football, basketball and track and field at Shelby High School. He averaged 20.3 points a game, 46.4% shooting from beyond the arc. He was named 1^st Team All-Conference three times and All-State twice. He led his team to two District Championships, two Divisional Championships and a 2^nd place finish at state. He graduated as the salutatorian and served as the student body vice president. He was named Academic All-State three times and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Emmett Linton III



Linton III joins the Argos from Tacoma Community College, where he was named the Offensive Player of the Year. He averaged 22 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game, and scored over 30 points three times. He is originally from Tacoma, Wash., where he played basketball for Lincoln High School. He averaged 18 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds a game, including three 30-point games. During his high school career, his team only lost four games. He was named 1^st Team All-State, 1^st Team All-Area and 1^st Team All-League twice. He led Lincoln to four conference championships, three district championships and a 3^rd place finish at state.

Aidan McDaniel



McDaniel joins the Argos from Belt, Mont., where he played football, basketball and track and field in high school. He averaged 18.2 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. He was named 1^st Team All-State twice, 1^st Team All-Conference twice and 2^nd Team All-Conference twice. He led his team to three conference championships and two district championships. He also had a solid football career, as he was named All-State and All-Conference twice during his career.

Owen Mercado



Mercado joins the Argos from Seeley Lake, Mont. where he played football and basketball at Seeley-Swan High School. He was named both All-State and All-Conference in basketball.

Sam Norum



Norum joins the Argos from Helena, Mont., where he played basketball at Helena High School.

Elijah Oliver



Oliver joins the Argos from Colorado Christian, where he averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists a game. He is originally from Cheyenne, Wyo., where he played basketball at Cheyenne East High School. He averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists a game. He was named All-State and All-Conference three times, and was named Conference Player of the Year as a senior. He led the team to two regular season conference titles.

Tarel Rollins



Rollins joins the Argos from Great Falls High School, where he played basketball and track and field for Great Falls High School. He averaged 7 points, 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. He was named All-Conference Honorable Mention and led his team to a 2^nd place finish at state. He was also named Academic All-State and is a member of the National Honors Society.

Fillip Smirnov



Smirnov joins the Argos from Billings, Mont. where he played basketball for Billings Christian School. He was named All-Conference as a junior and senior. He led the team to a MSCA championship as a junior and senior. He also led his team to a 3^rd place finish at a National Tournament as a junior and senior. He is originally from Moscow, Russia.

Sam Vining



Vining joins the Argos from Rocky Mountain College, where he averaged 10 points a game for the Battlin' Bears. He is originally from Great Falls, Mont., where he played basketball for Charles M. Russell High School. He averaged 16 points per game on 47% shooting from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. He was named 1^st Team All-State, and was named to the All-State Tournament Team and All-Divisional Team. He led his team to a state championship in 2018. Due to transfer policies, he will have to sit out this season.

Josh Warp



Warp joins the Argos from Havre, Mont. where he played golf, basketball and tennis in high school. He was named All-Conference in basketball, golf and tennis. He was named Academic All-State all four years. He was a member of the National Honor Society.

Trey Wasson



Wasson joins the Argos from Great Falls, Mont. where he played basketball and golf for Charles M. Russell High School. He averaged 11.4 points per game. He was named Academic All-State.