Alamosa, Colo. – The Adams State men's basketball team announced the addition of nine newcomers to the roster for the 2025-26 season. The Grizzlies, who graduated just three seniors last spring, will look to build on their reputation as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's highest-scoring offense.

Thomas Adams | Freshman | Sandia, NM 

From Sandia to Alamosa, Thomas joins Adams State after completing an outstanding career at Sandia High School, where he played under coach Danny Brown. He earned numerous honors, including District Player of the Year, District First Team, First Team All-State, and All-Academic recognition.

Coach Tripp: "Thomas is a flat-out winner. His recruiting process was extremely rewarding as we knew we wanted to coach him back in the summer preceding his junior year of high school. He and his team had a ton of success in New Mexico's largest classification. Thomas competes on both ends of the floor and we are excited about adding his versatility and toughness to our squad."

Dillan Baker | Senior | Tucson, AZ 

Senior guard Dillan Baker brings a wealth of experience to Adams State after competing last season under coach Shane Burcar at Northern Arizona University. Before his time in Flagstaff, Baker made his mark at Pima Community College in Tucson, where he established himself as one of the program's top performers. He led the Aztecs to a region championship and a berth in the national tournament, averaging 18 points per game while shooting an impressive 42 percent from beyond the arc. During his time at Pima, Baker also shared the court with current Grizzlies senior forward Jaylen Alexander, creating a connection that will be renewed in Alamosa this season.

Coach Tripp: "As soon as Dillan entered the transfer portal, we made it a point to prioritize him. Having recruited his junior college program, we were extremely familiar with his game and character. 'Bake' is a difference-maker. We scored in terms of adding his maturity, experience, and skill-level. He has already positively impacted our group in a short amount of time, and Grizzly fans are going to love watching Dillan compete."

Nathan Day | Freshman | Dallas, TX 

Freshman guard Nathan Day joins Adams State from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, where he played for coach Kyle May. Day capped off an outstanding senior season by averaging 13 points and 5 assists per game while breaking the school's single-season assist record with 165. His performance earned him Second Team All-State recognition, along with All-District and All-Academic honors, highlighting both his athletic ability and commitment in the classroom.

Coach Tripp: "When presented with the opportunity to add Nathan to our squad, someone who embodies what our program is about, we were beyond eager. He has a skillset and passion for this game that make him unique. His love for the game is unrivaled. Nathan plays at his pace, doesn't get sped up, and has a plethora of good basketball ahead of him."

Ivan Dorn | Freshman | Converse, TX  

Originally from Salisbury, Maryland, Ivan Dorn developed his game in Converse, Texas, where he starred at Judson High School under the tutelage of coach Noe Cantu. Dorn enjoyed an exceptional prep career with the Rockets, highlighted by earning District MVP honors as a senior. He was also selected to the prestigious TABC 6A All-Region Team, cementing his status as one of the top players in the region.

Coach Tripp: "The most fun part of the recruiting process with Ivan were our FaceTime calls and building rapport. Ivan shines a tremendous light, and getting the chance to be a part of his journey is special. He has a tantalizing list of tangibles - not very many humans move the way he does at the size that he possesses. Our defense and rebounding instantly improved with his addition, and we are ecstatic about his continued growth."

Emilek Jallow | Sophomore | Morrison, CO 

Sophomore Emilek Jallow enters his first season with the Grizzlies already familiar with RMAC competition. He began his collegiate career at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Before making the jump to the college level, Jallow enjoyed a standout career at Bear Creek High School, earning Jefferson County First-Team All-Conference honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

Coach Tripp: "We initially recruited Emilek out of high school and when we saw his name pop-up in the transfer portal, called him as fast as we could. He has an unrelenting motor and extraordinary skillset for his frame. Last season, not one student-athlete impacted the game defensively more in this conference more than Em. What makes him exceptional is his unselfishness and ability to connect with everyone he interacts with. We could not be happier that he is a Grizzly."

Jarmell Johnson | Senior | Denver, CO 

Denver native Jarmell Johnson arrives at Adams State as an experienced transfer with a strong collegiate background. Johnson most recently competed for the Cameron Aggies in Lawton, Oklahoma for coach Kevin O'Connor, where he averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds per game while providing consistent production on both ends of the floor. Before his time at Cameron, he spent two seasons with the Washburn Ichabods in Topeka, Kansas, where he contributed 8 points per game and developed a reputation as a reliable scorer.

Coach Tripp: "JJ is someone that we pursued multiple times in the transfer portal and we jumped at the chance to add him to our program again this past spring. He is an explosive athlete, elite defender, unguardable on the perimeter, and we were very fortunate to find a young man with his experience and ability that wanted to be here. JJ has an infectious personality and will set a great example for everyone in our program."

Maddox Mortensen | Freshman | Colorado Springs, CO 

Freshman guard Maddox Mortensen arrives at Adams State from Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, where he established himself as one of the area's top scorers. Mortensen played for coach Mark Jones, averaged 17 points per game for the Spartans and earned Colorado Springs Metro League First Team All-League honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

Coach Tripp: "Maddox is no stranger to Adams State basketball and we are excited to watch him grow throughout his time here. He can really shoot the ball, has great positional length, and competes his tail off when he steps onto the court. He is oozing with potential and we are excited about the trajectory of his career."

Mathew Starks | Freshman | Colorado Springs, CO 

Starks joins Adams State after a strong career at Sand Creek High School in Colorado Springs, where he played for coach Jeff Cooks. As a member of the Scorpions, he averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. Starks and his squad had an excellent season, winning 19 games and making it to the 5A Great 8.

Coach Tripp: "We believe we were able to add the best on-ball defender in Colorado's senior class to our squad. Mathew is an exceptional athlete, has toughness, comes from a winning program, and has a work ethic that is going to allow him to impact the game at this level. We had the chance to see him play at our team camp and elite camp, and his development over the course of his senior season is thrilling."

Treyvaughn Williams | Junior | Denver, CO 

A Denver native, Treyvaughn Williams joins Adams State after spending his last college basketball season at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where he played for coach Josh Davis. With the Aggies, Williams averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor. Before his time at Murray State, he competed for the Central Arizona Vaqueros in Coolidge, Arizona.

Coach Tripp: "Trey adds experience in addition to both talent and length on the perimeter. He is going to make threes in flurries and pressure the ball and disrupt opponents' offenses. He has been a joy to be around and feels as healthy as he has been since his early high school years. We are fortunate to add his character and perspective to our group and look forward to seeing him thrive in Alamosa."

The Grizzlies will open their season when they head to Odessa, Texas to face off against Texas Permian Basin in the 2025 Conference Crossover on Nov. 14.