FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University men’s basketball program has signed four student-athletes to its 2022 recruiting class, head coach Dave Richman announced Wednesday.
Noah Feddersen, a forward from Menomonie, Wis.; Sam Hastreiter, a forward from Lincoln, Neb.; Tajavis Miller, a guard from Lubbock, Texas; and Damari Wheeler-Thomas, a guard from Elgin, Ill., have signed to continue their education and compete at North Dakota State.
“We are ecstatic to welcome these four very competitive young men and their families into our Bison Family and culture,” Richman said. “Tajavis, Sam, Damari and Noah are all wonderful fits, both on and off the court. We look forward to watching their successes this year in their senior seasons.”
Feddersen (6-10 forward / Menomonie HS) averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a junior in the 2020-21 season. In addition to being an all-conference basketball player, Feddersen is also a standout tight end in football.
“Noah is a forward with a skill level that you don’t often find with his size. He has a high basketball IQ and great feel for the game, along with an ability to really pass the basketball,” said Richman. “We think he has tremendous upside, and as a multi-sport athlete, we are excited to see him continue to develop his game once he solely focuses on basketball.”
Hastreiter (6-7 forward / Pius X Catholic HS) averaged 10 points and five rebounds as a junior last season. He was named all-city, all-conference, and honorable mention all-state for the Pius X team that advanced to the state tournament.
“Sam is an extremely versatile player with a combination of size and skill that allows him to be effective both on the perimeter and inside,” said Richman. “With both his high school and summer teams, he’s proven that he can play different roles on winning teams. He is also young for his class, and thus, we think his best basketball is ahead of him.”
Miller (6-4 guard / Frenship HS) averaged 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game for his junior year, earning district Newcomer of the Year honors. He is ranked the No. 38 combo guard in the 247Sports national positional rankings.
“Tajavis is a talented combo guard, with a blue-collar and team-first mentality,” said Richman. “His versatility on both ends of the floor is what really stood out to us this summer. His ability to score, pass, and defend multiple positions will be a great asset to our Bison Family.”
Wheeler-Thomas (5-11 guard / Larkin HS) averaged 17.5 points and 5.0 assists per game as a junior, earning Upstate 8 all-conference honors. He will be a four-year varsity player for Larkin HS.
“Damari is an explosive lead guard. His ability to defend and create for himself and others will be a terrific piece for our roster,” Richman said. “Damari’s toughness and blue-collar mentality will be a great fit and a great addition to our culture.”
The Bison have played in three straight Summit League Tournament championship games, winning the title in 2019 and 2020. NDSU has earned four NCAA Tournament bids in the past eight seasons.
*Wes Offerman, AP