BUTTE -- Montana Tech's men's basketball program and head coach
Adam Hiatt are excited to introduce the Orediggers' 2026-27 signing class.
Hiatt welcomes six new faces onto the team this season, four transfers and two freshmen.
"This is a special recruiting class for our program," Hiatt said. "Coming off another very good 20-win season, advancing to the national tournament for the fifth-consecutive season, we feel like we fell short of some program goals. As a result, we were very intentional with addressing our roster and culture needs this offseason and believe we have exceeded our expectations for what we were hoping to add."
Meet the incoming Montana Tech men's basketball players:
Justin Asi, 6-6, Forward, Ferris State/Melbourne, Australia
The Asi file: Appeared in 23 games at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., in 2025-26…Averaged 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assist…Shot 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3…Played two seasons for coach Joe Peterson at Dawson Community College…Scored over 1,000 points, grabbed 400 rebounds, and handed out 100 assists for DCC…Scored in double digits 57 times while at DCC, with 18 games being 20 points or more…Amassed a 54-11 overall record at DCC…2024-25 MonDak regular season and tournament champion…First-team all-conference selection in 2024 and 2025…Interdisciplinary arts and sciences major.
Coach Hiatt on Justin: "Justin Asi is a matchup nightmare for almost anybody at our level. He is too big and physical for smaller defenders and is too skilled for bigger defenders. Justin is a hard worker and loves the game. He plays with an energy and enthusiasm that is contagious. He is a great teammate and elevates those around him. We expect Justin to be a dominant force for our program and to reach his potential as a player so he can have a long professional career after graduating from Montana Tech."
Sugar Eaton, 6-3, Guard, Big Bend CC/Perth, Australia
The Eaton File: Spent the 2025-26 season at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash., playing for coach Jason Hopkins…Started all 29 games…Averaged 15.9 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game…Shot 53.3 percent from the field and an impressive 44.2 percent from 3 with 50 makes…Scored in double digits on 19 occasions, with 11 of those being 20 points or more…Posted a season-high 33 points on 13-for-21 shooting at Walla Walla…Played high school basketball for New Hope Leadership Academy in Columbia, S.C., where he averaged 32.1 points, 4.4 assists, 7.4 rebounds…Led the state of South Carolina in scoring, including a 55-point outburst as a senior…Business and information technology major.
Coach Hiatt on Sugar: "Sugar Eaton has all the tools to become one of the best guards in the Frontier Conference. He possesses unrivaled athleticism and skill that will help him develop into the type of player that can lead a team to the highest levels of success. He is a young man of great character and drive who connects well with our program's culture. We have high expectations for Sugar and can't wait for Digger Nation to see him in action."
Kolby Finley, 6-2, Guard, Ronan HS/Ronan, Mont.
The Finley File: Led the Ronan Chiefs to a 17-6 record, a Northwest A conference championship, and a second-consecutive berth to the MHSA Class A state tournament…Played for coach George Sherwood…Northwest A MVP and two-time all-state selection in Class A…Three-time all-conference selection…Four-year varsity starter…Averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game as a senior…Amassed a remarkable 1,117 career points (13.5 ppg), 484 rebounds (5.8 rpg) and 331 assists (4.0 apg)…Played AAU for Huestis Elite…Member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes…Construction management major.
Coach Hiatt on Kolby: "Kolby Finley is arguably the best all-around athlete in the class of 2026. He has innate athletic gifts that separate him from his peers, but of equal significance, he is a complete basketball player. This past season, Kolby led a young roster to a conference championship with his leadership, competitive fire, and will to win. We expect all of those traits to immediately transfer to our program. Kolby's work ethic, relentlessness, and basketball IQ will position him to develop into a very good player in the Frontier Conference."
Zane Gillhouse, 6-5, Guard, Hellgate HS/Missoula, Mont.
The Gillhouse File: Led the Hellgate Knights to a 17-6 record and a fourth-consecutive trip to the MHSA Class AA state tournament…Played for coach Jeff Hays…Two-time all-state and three-year all-conference selection…Four-year varsity player (72-20 overall record)…Averaged over 15 points per game to go with 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists…Shot 48.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from deep…Won 2023 Class AA state championship…Scored over 800 points, grabbed over 300 rebounds, and handed out over 90 assists as a varsity starter…Selected to play in the 2026 Midland Roundtable Montana-Wyoming All-Star Basketball Series…Played AAU basketball for Huestis Elite…Business and information technology major.
Coach Hiatt on Zane: "Zane Gillhouse is one of the top prospects in the state of Montana. He played for a terrific high school program and knows how to win. He has great tools to work with as a basketball player. He has size, athleticism, and can really shoot the ball. Zane possesses a great personality, is respected by his peers, and is a great fit for our program. His best days as a player are ahead of him. We expect him to develop into one of the premier players in the Frontier Conference before it's all said and done."
Alan Kane, 6-2, Guard, Montana Western/McLean, Va.
The Kane File: Started all but one game during the 2024-25 season for Montana Western…Averaged 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game…Shot 41 percent from the field and scored in double figures on 15 occasions, including a season high of 33 points on 12-of-12 shooting on December 30, 2024…Earned Frontier Conference Player of the Week honors on January 7, 2025…Played at national junior college power College of Southern Idaho and earned first-team all-conference honors at Hagerstown Community College in Maryland…Scored 450 points, grabbed 75 rebounds, and handed out 85 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from distance during his junior college career…Business and information technology major.
Coach Hiatt on Alan: "We are thrilled that Alan Kane is an Oredigger. He is very familiar with our program, having played in the Frontier Conference previously and having been coached at CSI by Oredigger legend Drew Huse. Alan is extremely quick laterally and has a graceful athleticism that enables him to break down defenses. He possesses a strong appetite to compete and will bring a level of experience and athletic punch to our backcourt that we sought after this recruiting cycle. We expect his impact to be felt as soon as he steps on campus."
Tate Monroe, 6-3, Guard, Northwest College/Cut Bank, Mont.
The Monroe File: Helped lead the Northwest College (Wyo.) Trappers to 21 wins and an appearance in the Region IX semifinals…Played for coach Andy Ward…Named a member of the regional all-tournament team…Appeared in 58 junior college games, making 9 starts…Accumulated 315 points, 90 assists, 58 three-pointers, and 900 minutes of collegiate experience…Shot 40 percent from the field and 77.1 percent from the foul line throughout his career…Played AAU for Select…Member of the Blackfeet Nation…Civil engineering major.
Coach Hiatt on Tate: "Tate Monroe is a very skilled player with a great understanding of the game. The combination of his shooting ability, toughness, and experience directly impacts winning. He plays with a fearless approach and takes on the defensive challenges. Tate is a top-tier competitor and team-first player that embodies all the characteristics of our program. We are thrilled that he will finish his career as an Oredigger."
The six newcomers join an experienced group of Oredigger returners who made a fifth-straight trip to the NAIA national tournament last season. Tech finished with a 23-9 record, won a game in the tournament, and reached as high as No. 4 in the NAIA coaches' top 25 poll.
Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news and coverage of the Orediggers. Give Montana Tech athletics a like on Facebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.
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