MOORHEAD — University of Jamestown senior Anthony Walters has played only seven Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games, but he’s already provoking praise from opponents.
Minnesota State Moorhead head coach Jason Kemp was impressed with Walters after a recent performance against the Dragons at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead.
“I don’t understand why anybody’s not talking about this guy?” Kemp said after Walters scored 29 points in UJ’s 93-83 victory at MSUM on Dec. 20. “To me, he’s the best player in the league. He gets you every way. He can play with his teammates, off the ball, and he can get you 1-on-1. He’s very hard to guard. I’ve seen a lot of good guards in my career; he’s very, very good.”
The Jimmies (7-6, 5-2 NSIC) have won five consecutive games in their first season as an NSIC member, transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Walters appreciated Kemp’s comments.
“That meant a lot,” said Walters, from Queens, New York. “It made me really happy, all my hard work paying off. I’m still trying to continue to get better.”
University of Jamestown guard Anthony Walters, left, elevates for a shot against the University of Mary on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.
Contributed / Kadin Neppl Photography
Walters is averaging 19.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game through 13 contests. The Jimmies next play at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, against Northern State in NSIC play at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown.
“I think the more teams that have to play against Ant, they’re going to realize this guy, he’s a hard guy to try and stop when he has the ball on offense,” said Jimmies head coach Casey Bruggeman. “He’s tough to keep out of the paint.”
The Jimmies aren’t eligible for the postseason in their transition to Division II, so wins against teams like Dragons are big for the program. Especially on the road.
“We’re just like ‘Hey, every game is going to feel like a playoff game.’ When you go to Moorhead … that’s a big-time game for our program,” Bruggeman said. “Our guys are treating every game like a playoff game and trying to put together a great overall season.”
Heading into the New Year, the Jimmies are tied for first place in the North Division with Minnesota Duluth, which is also 5-2 in the NSIC. The Dragons, Minot State and Northern State are all tied for third place in the North at 4-3 in conference play.
“The league has been very good, very competitive,” said Walters, in his second season with the Jimmies. “It’s fun. … We want to show teams that we compete at a high level, but we’re so connected as a group.”
Walters averaged 14.3 points per game last season for UJ, coming off the bench. His offensive role has expanded this season.
“He’s had to step into that primary playmaking role this year and he’s done awesome with it,” Bruggeman said. “I think he’s become a little bit more than just a scorer. He’s been a creator for us, a creator for others, a generator of offense.”
Walters ranks sixth in the NSIC in scoring. He’s also shooting 49% from the field, 45% from 3-point range and 83% from the foul line. Bruggeman added Walters has improved on defense.
“I think he’s played his way into that conversation,” Bruggeman said of Walters being one of the top players in the NSIC. “One of the best parts about Ant is he has a lot of respect for this league and the players in this league. Does he think he’s in that conversation with some of the league’s best, yeah? But he recognizes there are a lot of other guys in that conversation.”
Minnesota State Moorhead senior quarterback Jack Strand was named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team, earning first-team honors. Dragons senior receiver Gage Florence was named to the second team on the Elite 100, which is selected by staff members of D2Football. com with input from active head coaches and also pro football scouting veteran Josh Buchanan. Strand and Florence both plan to pursue pro football opportunities after their record-setting careers with the Dragons football program. … MSUM senior Terryn Johnson has 889 points and 670 rebounds in 97 career games with the Dragons women’s basketball program. Johnson, from Kindred, N.D., is averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds through 11 games this season. The Dragons (6-5, 3-4 NSIC) next play at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Minnesota Crookston.
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.