The 2026 NCCAA Central Region Champion Thunder men's basketball team and staff have completed their 2026 recruiting class and have signed seven total newcomers that include two transfers, one NCCAA transfer and a NAIA transfer, and five incoming freshman. The newest Thunder men's basketball student-athletes are:

TRANSFERS

Dakota Holm - 6'5, Sophomore, Forward - Barclay College

Played for the Bears in 2025-26. As a freshman in 2025-26, Holm played in 20 games for the Bears. Holm averaged 7.4 minutes per game and 1.3 points on 32.0% shooting from the field, including 25.0% from the 3-point line, to go along with 2.3 rebounds. He also shot 50.0% from the free throw line. Prepped at Winter High School in Winter, Wisconsin.

Josh Somers - 6'7, Redshirt-Freshman, Forward - Ottawa University

Part of the Braves program for the Fall 2025 semester. As a senior in high school, Somers led the Warriors to 15 wins. Somers averaged 10.0 points on 40.0% shooting from the field, to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He also shot 50.0% from the free throw line. Finished his career as Southcrest's all-time leader in points scored. Prepped at Southcrest Christian School in Lubbock, Texas.

FRESHMAN

Brooks Baughman - 6'6, Freshman, Forward - Blue Valley High School (KS)

Crew Byerly - 5'11, Freshman, Guard - Owasso High School (OK)

Led the Rams to 24 wins as a senior. As a sophomore, Byerly and the Rams won the 6A OSSAA State Championship. Byerly averaged 6.4 points per game to go along with 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists. As a senior, he was name All-District Honorable Mention.

Ben DeVader - 5'11, Freshman, Guard - St. Marys High School (KS)

Led the Bears to 19 wins as a senior. DeVader averaged 20.1 points per game, to go along with 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. As a senior, he was named First Team All-Big East and First Team 2A All-State. KSHSAA single-single record holder for 3-pointer made in a season with 121 made threes. Finished his career with 1,116 points, 226 assists, and 255 made threes. Also lettered in football and golf at St. Marys High School.

Aden Rhoades - 6'4, Freshman, Guard - Summit Christian Academy (MO)

Led the Eagles to 17 wins as a senior. As a senior, Rhoades played in 23 games for the Eagles. Rhoades averaged 7.6 points per game on 38.9% shooting from the field, including 19.4% from the 3-point line, to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 steals, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He also shot 66.7% from the free throw line. As a senior, he was named All-Conference.

Jayden Thompson - 6'0, Freshman, Guard - Junction City High School (KS)

Led the Bluejays to 13 wins as a senior. Thompson averaged 10.5 points per game on 50.0% shooting from the field, including 35.0% from the 3-point line, to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 steals. He also shot 80.0% from the free throw line.

Head coach Jordan Strom had this to say about his most recent recruiting class, “I’m excited to welcome this group to our program and for these guys to get to Manhattan. We feel like we have the right guys that fit our culture and team. I cannot wait to get started and cannot wait to see everyone in the HAC cheering these guys on this season!”

The Thunder will tip off their season on the road at the Central Christian College Classic for Christ against Central Christian College (KS) on Friday, October 30th in McPherson, Kansas.

Check out the men's basketball schedule here: 2026-27 Thunder Men's Basketball Schedule

Tickets for the 2026-27 season have been posted to the SidelineTix website and app. To purchase tickets, fans can visit www.mccthunder.com and click the "Get Tickets" tab.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Men's Basketball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.