MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University head men’s basketball coach Brad Bigler announced Wednesday that three high school student-athletes have recently signed letters of intent to continue their academic and basketball careers at SMSU.

Joining the program for the 2023-24 season include Nathan Fenske from Cottonwood, Aeron Stevens from Planview and Ethan Koltz from Sioux Falls, S.D.

“Every recruiting class has its own unique characteristics,” Bigler said. “This group will step on campus with some physical strength and be ready to compete. All three guys come from great families who understand what hard work is all about.”

Fenske, a 6-foot-2 guard at Lakeview High School, is a two-time all-conference honoree and was named to the Marshall Independent All-Area team last season. He set a school record with 584 points as a junior, averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds, three steals and two assists per game. He also set a school single-season record with 81 steals in 2021-22.

Fenske is also a standout in football and track & field, twice earning all-district honors in football while earning all-conference accolades in track & field. A member of the National Honor Society, he set a school record in the high jump and was a state qualifier in 2022.

“Watching Nathan’s progress has been fun. He was a guy who came to our camps ever since he was a little boy. His commitment in the weight room was a game changer for him,” Bigler said. “He too will be a physical player at the college level. When we evaluated Nathan, you can tell this means a lot to him. He put in his work behind the scenes. Of all the local talented kids over the years I think he spent the most time with us at camps and clinics. Proud of his determination. He will remind Mustang fans of a blend of Matt Zager and Kevin Andrews.”

Koltz is a 6-foot-10 center at Sioux Falls Jefferson High School and also played football for the Cavaliers, which is competing in just its second season of varsity sports.

“Ethan just finished up winning a state championship in football. Have to give him credit, not many 6-10 guys want to be in the trenches on the football field,” Bigler said. “Ethan was exceptional in the recruiting process. We appreciate his patience and understanding. When Ethan came to our overnight camp as a junior it reminded me of Jeremy VanKlompenburg back in the day. Like all big guys, Ethan’s game will expand at the college level. It will be fun to watch Coach Smith and Ethan work together. His game will remind Mustang fans of a combination of VanKlompenburg and Nick Dale.”

Stevens, a 6-foot-7 forward at Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School, is a two-time all-conference selection and was named all-state following his junior season. He averaged 16.7 points and 7.5 rebounds in 2021-22, including setting a program single-season record with 47 blocked shots. The Bulldogs finished 28-2 last season and advanced to the section championship game. Stevens, a member of the National Honor Society, has scored 719 career points and pulled down 330 career rebounds.

“Going into the spring our focus was a physical forward who could play multiple positions. Aeron was our top guy for the whole process,” Bigler said. “His personality separated himself during the recruiting process. His combination of physicality and toughness was exactly what we were looking for. He has the ability to score from the block and step out and shoot the three. He will remind Mustang fans of Joey Bartlett, Scott Roehl and Elijah Starzl. Aeron comes with an old-school mentality that our Mustang fans will appreciate right away.”

“Proud of our staff for their impact in the process. With how the landscape of college basketball is changing we are determined to build a program with guys who want to be Mustangs,” Bigler said. “Allowing guys to develop in the program creates a different sense of pride. You can feel the momentum right now as we have a good blend of experience and youth.”