BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State University Billings men's basketball head coach Luke Fennelly has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes who will join the Yellowjackets for the 2026-27 season.
 
The class features a blend of local standouts, accomplished junior college transfers, Division I transfers, and international talent from Finland and New Zealand. The group adds size, experience, versatility, and proven production as MSUB looks to build on four consecutive 20-win seasons and remain among the top contenders in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
A major theme of the 2026-27 signing class is the addition of homegrown talent. Five signees have Montana roots, including Billings natives Chase Bad Bear from Billings Senior High School, Billings Skyview alumni Zakai Owens and Lane Love, Lockwood High School's Zicciah Callison, along with Lewistown's Fischer Brown.
 
The group arrives at MSUB with a combined resume that includes multiple state championships, numerous all-state selections, state tournament accolades, and appearances in the prestigious Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game. Their additions reflect the Yellowjackets' commitment to identifying and retaining some of the top talent the Treasure State has to offer.
 
Joining the team from neighboring states and beyond, Jefferson Neary from Gillette, WY, Conner Oertel from Salem, OR, Braydon Olson from Chehalis, WA, Joel Brown from Auckland, New Zealand, Cory Lovell from Wellington, New Zealand, and Eino Montin from Oulu, Finland.
 
"This signing class brings together everything we were looking for as a staff — size, skill, experience, toughness, and a strong connection to Montana basketball," Coach Fennelly said. "We added proven college players who have produced at the Division 1, Division 2, and junior-college levels, while also bringing in talented young players with tremendous upside. This group is highly competitive, versatile, and committed to our culture. We believe the roster can provide an exciting style of play that the Billings community and the state of MT can be proud of. This class is balanced, has depth and is built not only for the present, but for the future as well. We can't wait to get started as we work towards a successful 2026-27 season. Go Jackets!"
 
Chase Bad Bear | Forward | 6-8 | Freshman | Billings, Mont.
A local product from Billings Senior High School, Bad Bear joins the Yellowjackets after a decorated prep career. He lettered in basketball all four years and earned First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honors. Bad Bear was selected to compete in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game and was also recognized as Academic All-State.
 
Sibling of Yellowjacket women's basketball star Cola Bad Bear, the 6-foot-8 forward brings length, athleticism, and a strong foundation as one of the top prospects to emerge from the Billings area in recent years.
 
Zakai Owens | Forward | 6-8 | Sophomore | Billings, Mont.
Owens returns home after spending his freshman season at Dawson Community College to join his brother Rhyse who just produced a very productive redshirt freshman season for the 'Jackets. In 33 appearances with 10 starts at Dawson, Zakai averaged 6.1 points per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. He also contributed 163 rebounds, 47 assists, 43 steals, and seven blocks.
 
Prior to Dawson, Owens starred at Skyview High School, where he earned First Team All-State and All-Conference honors while helping lead the Falcons to the 2025 state championship. He was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player and competed in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game.
 
Lane Love | Guard | 6-5 | Junior | Billings, Mont.
Another Billings native, Love transfers to MSUB after spending three seasons at Montana Tech. During his collegiate career, he appeared in 38 games for the Orediggers while continuing his development at the NAIA level.
 
Love enjoyed a standout high school career at Skyview High School, earning two All-State selections and being named the Eastern AA Offensive MVP in 2023. He led Montana in scoring at 23.6 points per game while also leading the state in field goals made and free throws made. Love helped guide Skyview to a Class AA state championship in 2021 and competed in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game.
 
Eino Montin | Guard | 6-1 | Junior | Oulu, Finland
Montin joins the Yellowjackets after stops at Division I Stonehill College and Temple College. As a freshman at Temple College, he earned NTJCAC Honorable Mention recognition and was named an All-Academic First Team All-American. A native of Oulu, Finland, Montin represented his country on the Finnish U20 National Team and trained at the prestigious Jyvaskyla Basketball Academy. His international experience and high-level skill development add depth and playmaking ability to the MSUB backcourt.
 
Fischer Brown | Guard | 6-5 | Junior | Lewistown, Mont.
Brown returns to his home state after spending two seasons at Division I Western Carolina. He appeared in 39 games for the Catamounts and showcased his versatility as a guard capable of impacting multiple areas of the game.
 
Before beginning his collegiate career, Brown starred at Fergus High School and Wasatch Academy. He was named Montana Player of the Year after leading Fergus to a state championship while averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, and three steals per game. At Wasatch Academy, Brown averaged 12 points per game while shooting 43 percent from three-point range and 93 percent from the free-throw line.
 
His Division I experience, scoring ability, and familiarity with Montana basketball make him one of the most accomplished additions in the class.
 
Connor Oertel | Guard | 6-3 | Junior | Salem, Ore.
Oertel arrives at MSUB following an outstanding two-year career at Clackamas Community College. As a sophomore, he earned First Team All-Region honors after leading the entire NWAC in scoring at 22 points per game. He started all 29 contests and shot 51.4 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc while averaging seven rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
 
As a freshman, Oertel earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition and a spot on the conference All-Freshman Team after averaging 13.2 points per game. The Salem native gives the Yellowjackets a proven offensive weapon who has consistently produced at one of the nation's top junior college conferences.
 
Cory Lovell | Forward | 6-9 | Senior | Wellington, New Zealand
Lovell brings size and experience to the MSUB frontcourt after competing at Stonehill College and Harcum College. During his sophomore season at Harcum, he averaged 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while ranking 10th nationally among NJCAA Division I players with 39 blocks.
 
The 6-foot-9 forward has played more than 60 collegiate games and developed a reputation as a rim protector and rebounder. Before coming to the United States, Lovell starred in New Zealand and was recognized as HIBS Basketball Player of the Year while earning a nomination for Wellington Player of the Year.
 
Joel Brown | Forward | 6-9 | Junior | Auckland, New Zealand
Brown joins the Yellowjackets from Temple College, where he appeared in 55 games over two seasons. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 60 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range.
 
The Auckland native provides versatility at 6-foot-9, combining interior size with the ability to stretch the floor offensively. Brown's efficiency and developing skill set make him an intriguing addition to the Yellowjackets' frontcourt rotation.
 
Braydon Olson | Guard | 6-3 | Junior | Chehalis, Wash.
Olson transfers to MSUB after a breakout sophomore campaign at Western Oregon University. He averaged 12 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range and earned Academic All-GNAC honors. One of the top shooters in the conference, Olson set a Western Oregon single-game program record with 10 made three-pointers against Western Washington.
 
During his high school career at Mark Morris High School, he became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,863 career points and owns multiple program three-point shooting records. His ability to score from the perimeter and experience within the GNAC should make an immediate impact for the 'Jackets.
 
Zicciah Callison | Guard | 6-4 | Freshman | Billings, Mont.
Callison remains in Billings after a highly successful career at Lockwood High School. A three-time All-State selection and three-time First Team All-Conference performer, he established himself as one of the premier players in Montana.
 
Callison leaves Lockwood as the school's all-time leading scorer with more than 1,000 career points while also holding program records for steals and blocks. He represented the state in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game and was a three-time Montana Elite and Hi-Line Invitational selection. The athletic guard brings scoring ability, defensive instincts, and local pride to the Yellowjackets program.
 
Jefferson Neary | Guard | 6-3 | Junior | Gillette, Wyo.
Neary arrives at MSUB following a successful junior college career at Gillette College and a season at Black Hills State University. During his final season at Gillette, he averaged 10.5 points per game while recording 185 assists and 90 steals.
 
He finished his junior college career as Gillette College's all-time leader in assists and steals, highlighting his ability to impact games on both ends of the floor. Neary was a standout performer at Campbell County High School, earning multiple All-State and All-Conference honors while competing in both the Montana-Wyoming and Wyoming North-South All-Star Games.
 
With a balanced mix of local standouts, experienced transfers, and international talent, the 2026-27 signing class gives the Yellowjackets added depth and versatility across the roster. The group will join a program that has established itself as one of the premier teams in the GNAC. Coming off three straight 20-win seasons under head coach Luke Fennelly, these newcomers will look to help MSUB continue its winning tradition in the seasons ahead.