MISSOULA — The Montana men’s basketball team has lost another award winner from its 2024-25 roster.
Forward Joe Pridgen, the Grizzlies’ lone All-Big Sky first-team selection last winter, will not be playing college basketball this coming season after he previously announced he would be returning to Missoula.
“There was a misunderstanding about the circumstances of Joe’s eligibility,” a University of Montana spokesperson told the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. “He does not have any remaining eligibility for the 2025-26 season.”
Pridgen had shared his plan to return in a surprise video announcement on senior night on Feb. 15 during pre-game festivities. Athletes typically apply for an NCAA waiver after their final season when their eligibility is exhausted.
People are also reading…
They also typically get five years in which they can play four seasons. Pridgen played five seasons over six years thanks to the NCAA blanket waiver for those athletes on teams in the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season.
He was the Patriot League rookie of the year in 2019-20 at Holy Cross and played at UNC Wilmington in 2020-21. Next, he redshirted at Northeastern in 2021-22 after being denied an intraconference waiver and then he played there the next two seasons. He finished by playing for UM in 2024-25.
Pridgen exploded onto the scene in Missoula with his high-flying dunks as he earned all-conference honors after joining as a walk-on and while raising a child. He led the Griz with 6.8 rebounds per game and 25 total blocks, and he ranked third at 11.5 points per game and 30 total steals.
Montana guard Joe Pridgen (11) looks to pass the ball during the Big Sky Conference Championship game between the Montana Grizzlies and the Northern Colorado at Idaho Central Arena on Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025.
SHANNA MADISON,Missoulian
Pridgen’s departure means the Grizzlies will not be bringing back four of the five starters who helped them win the Big Sky regular season and tournament championships while advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Guard Kai Johnson, who made the all-tournament team, was denied his request for a preliminary injunction to play a fifth season while he sues the NCAA over eligibility issues.
Guard Malik Moore, who earned second team all-conference honors, transferred to Big East program Xavier after being the Grizzlies’ No. 2 scorer.
Guard Brandon Whitney, who made the second team and all-defensive team, exhausted his eligibility after being UM’s all-time assists leader and the Big Sky’s record holder in minutes played and games started.
Senior starting forward Te’Jon Sawyer will be returning thanks to an NCAA blanket waiver that grants an extra year of eligibility to athletes who had previously competed at a non-NCAA institution and would have exhausted their eligibility at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Junior guard Money Williams, who earned second-team all-conference recognition and was the Big Sky’s top reserve, also announced he would be returning. He had gone through NBA pre-draft workouts with the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets.
The Griz will also get back guards Chase Henderson, Tyler Thompson and Connor Dick, and forward Amari Jedkins.
They have brought in six transfers so far: guards Courtney Anderson Jr. (Colorado), Tyler Isaak (Citrus College), Brooklyn Hicks (UNLV) and Grant Kepley (Western Washington), and forwards Kadyn Betts (Minnesota) and Trae Taylor (Chico State).
Montana has also signed one high school recruit: forward Kenyon Aguino.
The Griz will also be bringing back head coach Travis DeCuire, who broke the school’s all-time wins record during his 11th season leading his alma mater.
They do need to replace assistant coaches Anderson Clarke and DJ Broome.
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at frank.gogola@406mtsports.com.
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!