The Montana State men’s basketball program announced on April 27 the addition of three transfer players to its roster for the 2026-27 season. Head coach Matt Logie said that guard Isaiah Crane, forward London Praytor, and guard Darnez Slater will join the Bobcats, completing a five-player signing class that also includes freshmen Daniel “DJ” Johnson and Hale Hansen.
The announcement matters as it finalizes Montana State’s roster at 15 players, with all scholarship athletes from last season returning. The new additions are expected to strengthen both the backcourt and frontcourt as the team prepares for another competitive year.
Crane arrives from Carroll College after earning Second-Team NAIA All-American honors and being named Frontier Conference Player of the Year during his redshirt sophomore season. He averaged 19.1 points per game in his most recent campaign and led his conference in scoring. “We are thrilled to add Isaiah Crane to our backcourt here at Montana State,” Logie said. “Isaiah is a hard-working, late-blooming guard who excelled at the NAIA level down the road at Carroll College for the last two seasons… We think he will be a great fit here at MSU.”
Praytor joins after one year at Toledo where he played in 16 games as a freshman forward, including notable performances such as a double-double against Central State. “It is extremely exciting to add a player with London’s size and upside to our frontcourt here at Montana State,” Logie said. He highlighted Praytor’s versatility and development since high school: “He has added 20-plus pounds of size and strength in the last year…and will only continue to get better with time in our program.” Slater comes from Colorado State after appearing in 23 games last season; he was previously recruited by Logie’s staff out of high school. “Darnez Slater is another addition to our basketball family whose roots here run a bit deeper due to our previous relationship building,” Logie said.
Montana State returns ten players from last year’s squad, which finished second in Big Sky regular-season standings with an overall record of 18-14 (12-6 conference) and an impressive home record of 11-2. The incoming transfers join these returning athletes as Montana State aims for continued success next season.
Looking ahead, Coach Logie expressed optimism about integrating these new players into an experienced group: “Having been a part of an NCAA Tournament team…Darnez has communicated a deep desire and willingness to do whatever it takes to get back…and we can’t wait to get him integrated with the rest of a very hungry group of guys.”
