Coming off a historic season that saw Minot State University (MSU) earn a first-ever NCAA national ranking and an upset of the No. 1-ranked team in the country, the Beavers began tooling up for more success on the hardwood as head coach Matt Murken is pleased to introduce his recruiting class for the 2024-25 season.
A ton of experience comes with this class to the court at the MSU Dome as the Beavers add five transfers, four who join Minot State after successful junior-college careers along with a transfer from NCAA Division III Maryville College.
“This recruiting class adds a lot of talent, toughness, and winning attributes,” said coach Murken. “We are extremely excited with what each of these young men brings to our program. These guys impact winning in nearly every way: They love the game of basketball and are hungry to compete every day. I can’t wait to get them on campus and get to work alongside them.”
The five transfers join eight returners for an MSU program that matched it’s all-time NCAA-era high in wins with 20 last season, was ranked in the national Top 25 for six weeks and climbed as high as No. 15 in the nation.
This year’s Beaver team hits the court in early November to open the season at the Conference Challenge tournament hosted by Minnesota Duluth, playing East Central (Okla.) on Friday, Nov. 8, and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Daryl Rice
The Beavers make their home debut at the MSU Dome on Wednesday, Nov. 20, hosting Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. in the second half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.
Here is a look at the newest members of the Minot State men’s basketball team:
Ayouba Berthe, a 6-foot-4 guard from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and transfer from Kirkwood Community College
Berthe averaged 11.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game playing in 63 games over two seasons at Kirkwood where he shot an efficient 43.3 percent (229-of-529) from the field and hit 36 3-pointers each season. He also had 66 total steals and 26 total blocked shots defensively and dished out 107 career assists. A First Team All-Region selection this past season, he led his team to a 25-6 record and Top 10 ranking nearly the entire season this past winter, and a 50-13 overall mark in two years.
Max Groom, a 6-foot-2 guard from Perth, Australia and transfer from Dakota College at Bottineau. Groom is a prolific scorer having already eclipsed 1,000 points in his collegiate career as he averaged 16.7 points per game in 63 games for the Lumberjacks, including scoring 635 points this past winter. He shot 50.7 percent (360-of-710) for the ‘Jacks, and hit 81 3-pointers in two seasons.
Lual Lual
Groom also averaged 3.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game for DCB where he earned 1st Team All-Conference honors, set the all-time scoring mark, and was second in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage (38-of-76 for 50.0 percent) as a freshman.
Lual Lual, a 6-foot-7 forward from Tucson, Arizona and transfer from Mesa Community College
An All-ACCAC DII 2nd Team and All-Region DII 2nd Team performer this past winter at Mesa, Lual averaged 11.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 54 games over two seasons with the Thunderbirds and shot 49.7 percent (244-of-491) from the field. He also had 66 career assists, 50 career steals, and 36 career blocks.
Daryl Rice Jr., a 5-foot-9 guard from Tyrone, Georgia and transfer from Maryville College
A recent graduate of NCAA Division III Maryville (Tenn.), Rice averaged 7.0 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in 77 games over 3 seasons and was a team captain and starter his final two seasons with the Scots, who compiled a 70-19 record with him on the court. An All-Conference Second Team selection this past winter,
Max Groom
Rice also was named Maryville College’s Male Athlete of the Year. He scored 551 points, dished out 236 assists, grabbed 195 rebounds, and made 119 steals in his career, and was a 46.3 percent shooting guard (217-of-469), which included shooting 53.1 percent last season (93-of-175).
Sam West, a 6-foot-5 forward from Shakopee, Minnesota and transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College. West averaged 11 points and 6.7 rebounds in 69 games over two seasons at Iowa Lakes, which included a standout sophomore season where he averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds starting all 35 games for the Lakers.
West helped lead the Lakers to back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament appearances, a 51-19 overall record for two seasons. Iowa Lakes went 27-9 this past season and maintained a Top 15 ranking for nearly the entire season. West also was named a First Team All-Region performer and a Second Team NJCAA All-American this past season. He averaged 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game and had 23 career blocked shots in his two seasons at Iowa Lakes.
Sam West