2025-26 Recruiting

[msu_agfan]

The Gold Rush game is often one used to bring in top recruits for official visits. Has anyone heard anything regarding that this year? I wonder who the top recruits will be.

[TCcat 84]

Thank you msu_agfan for starting this. Personally, I am super excited for Bobcat Basketball Both the men's team and the women's teams will
do very well. Coach Binford and Coach Logie will do a splendid job of carrying forward what they have started. GO CATS!

[mslacat]

I didn’t hear about any recruits being in town for the Gold Rush before or during the weekend, but since then I found out that one prospect did visit the men’s program: Daniel Johnson, a 3-star, 6’3” combo guard out of Auburn High School in Auburn, Washington. Most scouting sites have him in the top five for the 2025 class in Washington (#3 on 247Sports).

Last season he put up 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 steals a game for Auburn. He visited Eastern Washington the weekend of August 25th and I’ve heard he’s also lined up a visit to Missoula to check out the Griz. He’s got an offer from Washington State, as well as MSU, EWU and UM and probably a few others too. Johnson can really score it, has deep three-point range, and had a strong summer where he popped up on a couple of “players to watch” and “scoring efficiency” lists. I feel pretty safe to say he’s a big-time target for the Cats this fall.



On the women’s side, not much has come out about whether any recruits were in for the Gold Rush. The thing to remember is Binford’s roster is all underclassmen — not a single senior. She’s got 13 scholarship players right now, which leaves two spots for the 2026–27 season. One of those is already committed to Madison O’Connor, and word is Binford is being pretty picky with that last one, but she’s in on some 3- and 4-star kids.

And just a little rumor floating around — I’ve heard the Lady Griz are pitching recruits that if you head to Missoula you’ll have a shot to play right away, while in Bozeman you might be stuck deeper on the bench since basically everyone is coming back next year.

[arvcat2]

At Gold Rush in the pre-game endzone, I saw the WBB assistant coaches schmoozing a 5-10ish looking blond girl with, it appeared, her parents & sister. No idea who she is.

[mslacat]

At Gold Rush in the pre-game endzone, I saw the WBB assistant coaches schmoozing a 5-10ish looking blond girl with, it appeared, her parents & sister. No idea who she is.

Could have been Madison O’Connor

[arvcat2]

At Gold Rush in the pre-game endzone, I saw the WBB assistant coaches schmoozing a 5-10ish looking blond girl with, it appeared, her parents & sister. No idea who she is.

Could have been Madison O’Connor

It was definitely not the O'Connor sisters.

[MSU01]

And just a little rumor floating around — I’ve heard the Lady Griz are pitching recruits that if you head to Missoula you’ll have a shot to play right away, while in Bozeman you might be stuck deeper on the bench since basically everyone is coming back next year.

Smart move by them to pitch it that way, although we all know that MSU realistically will have more open roster spots than we might think next year due to the transfer portal. Nate Harris is going to do a great job there, with Loree Payne leaving NAU I think MSU and UM will emerge as the two top programs in the Big Sky moving forward.

[mslacat]

Anyone see any recruits in this past weekend?

[BobcatDel]

And just a little rumor floating around — I’ve heard the Lady Griz are pitching recruits that if you head to Missoula you’ll have a shot to play right away, while in Bozeman you might be stuck deeper on the bench since basically everyone is coming back next year.

Smart move by them to pitch it that way, although we all know that MSU realistically will have more open roster spots than we might think next year due to the transfer portal. Nate Harris is going to do a great job there, with Loree Payne leaving NAU I think MSU and UM will emerge as the two top programs in the Big Sky moving forward.

Well one thing I hear every year is Coach Bin does not play only a 6 or 7 person rotation like some on the board would want…. but she pretty well uses more of the roster. Last year 9 girls averaged double digit minutes playing time and 2 more were a hairs breadth from averaging double digit time for season. Heading into the last quarter of the season before Dylan and Marah were injured we had almost seamless rotations with players coming in and out and not losing performance on the court.

[imacat]

And just a little rumor floating around — I’ve heard the Lady Griz are pitching recruits that if you head to Missoula you’ll have a shot to play right away, while in Bozeman you might be stuck deeper on the bench since basically everyone is coming back next year.

Smart move by them to pitch it that way, although we all know that MSU realistically will have more open roster spots than we might think next year due to the transfer portal. Nate Harris is going to do a great job there, with Loree Payne leaving NAU I think MSU and UM will emerge as the two top programs in the Big Sky moving forward.

I wonder what Coach Beattie is telling recruits about the Bobcat program.

[mslacat]

And just a little rumor floating around — I’ve heard the Lady Griz are pitching recruits that if you head to Missoula you’ll have a shot to play right away, while in Bozeman you might be stuck deeper on the bench since basically everyone is coming back next year.

Smart move by them to pitch it that way, although we all know that MSU realistically will have more open roster spots than we might think next year due to the transfer portal. Nate Harris is going to do a great job there, with Loree Payne leaving NAU I think MSU and UM will emerge as the two top programs in the Big Sky moving forward.

I wonder what Coach Beattie is telling recruits about the Bobcat program.

I would think HEAD COACH HARRIS (former top Bobcat assistant coach) would be more of an expert on the Bobcat program.

[SACCAT]

Cats WBB get a comit from 6'5" Emma Dongelmans (Ontario Canada).

[mslacat]

https://www.instagram.com/emmadongelman ... /?hl=am-et

Little busy right now but

[mslacat]

Cats WBB get a comit from 6'5" Emma Dongelmans (Ontario Canada).

Thanks, Saccat, for the announcement. I think this is a really strong prospect commit for the Bobcats. They currently have only two scholarships available, and I’d say they’ve hit a home run with both of their commits.

Emma Dongelmans is a 6'5" forward/center who averaged 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks per game. She shot 50% from the field, 30% from three-point range, and 71% from the free-throw line. Her season high included a 28-point, 18-rebound performance.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E3vFThS_rQI

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HwmGnwGMPKQ

[MSU01]

Congrats, Emma! Coach Binford is really using the Canadian recruiting pipeline these days along with the Montana girls.

[grizzh8r]

Congrats, Emma! Coach Binford is really using the Canadian recruiting pipeline these days along with the Montana girls.

And the good thing about Canadians is that for the majority of them, Bozeman winters won't be any big deal, and could arguably be a slight upgrade, depending on how far north and inland they are...

[Helcat72]

Must be the hair...she looks like she could be KJ's sister! Lol