Men’s Basketball features eight newcomers for 2024-25

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- St. Thomas men's basketball will feature new contributors for the 2024-25 season after coming off the program's first 20-win season in the Division I era. The Tommies bring in eight newcomers for year four of DI play, including three transfers and five freshmen.

"We are so excited about the (eight) newcomers joining our program," Head Coach Johnny Tauer said. "Two weeks into summer workouts, their passion for basketball, appreciation of our culture, and desire to be a part of a truly unique story in all of college basketball has been impressive. They bring a range of skills and size, but what is consistent is the previous successes they have been a part of and their work ethic and selflessness to help Tommie Hoops continue to improve.

"We are ecstatic to have Ramogi (Nyagudi) join us at St. Thomas. From the moment we started recruiting him, it was clear what a great fit this was, both with our program values along with our institutional mission. He comes from a wonderful family and his dad Robert is also a St. Thomas alum."

The group of eight is the largest newcomer class for the program since joining Division I in 2021-22. St. Thomas returns 48 percent of its scoring from last season, led by Kendall Blue with 351 points and Drake Dobbs with 314. The Tommies also return 57.5 percent of its 3-point production as four players totaled at least 38 3-pointers, led by sophomore Carter Bjerke with a team-best 47.

"We are excited to get back in the gym as we build team chemistry, develop skills and strength, and help these (eight) guys understand our systems and terminology," Tauer said. "Our veterans have been great in this process, leading both by words and example to help the transition for our newcomers. We are looking forward to another exciting season of St. Thomas Basketball!"

2024-25 St. Thomas Men's Basketball Newcomers

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown/High School/Previous
Miles Barnstable	G	6-2	180	TR-Jr.	Sheboygan, Wis. / Howards Grove / UW-Whitewater
Rich Byhre	F	6-8	235	TR-Gr.	Delafield, Wis. / Waukesha Catholic Memorial / Green Bay
Jermaine Coleman	F	6-7	190	TR-Fr.	Indianapolis, Ind. / Park Tudor/Purdue Fort Wayne
Kyle Counts	F	6-7	200	Fr.	Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville
Tim Franks	G	6-5	190	Fr.	Mequon, Wis. / Homestead
Ryan Lafferty	G	6-5	195	Fr.	Spokane, Wash. / Mt. Spokane
Nolan Minessale	G	6-5	185	Fr.	Brookfield, Wis. / Brookfield Central
Ramogi Nyagudi	F	6-9	185	Fr.	Winnipeg, Manitoba / DME Academy at St. John's Northwestern

#14 Miles Barnstable, Junior
Played two seasons at UW-Whitewater from 2022-24… selected to the 2023-24 NABC All-District Second Team and WIAC All-Conference First Team both seasons… landed 2023-24 D3hoops.com Preseason All-American Fifth Team honors… named 2022-23 WIAC and WBCA Newcomer of the Year and to the D3hoops.com All-Region Third Team after leading UW-Whitewater to a NCAA Division III Final Four run, upsetting five ranked teams… averaged 22 points per game during 2022-23 NCAA tournament… led the Warhawks in points per game and total 3-pointers both seasons, ranking fourth in the conference with 66 3-pointers as a freshman… ranked 36th in the nation and led the WIAC in total points with 538 as a freshman… led the WIAC in free throw percentage both seasons and ranked 17th nationally as a freshman and 27th as a sophomore… holds a career high of 35 points set Dec. 6, 2023 at Hope… 19 career games with at least 20 points, including three straight to start his freshman season… eight career games with at least four 3-pointers, including three with a career high six… graduated from Howards Grove High School and played basketball under head coach Wade Georgeoff… named Big East Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference.

#33 Rich Byhre, Graduate Senior
Played one season at Green Bay (2023-24) and four at Rockhurst (2019-23)… totaled eight double-digit scoring games with Green Bay, including a season high 19 points during the season finale against Milwaukee… started 28 of 32 games played with 19.3 minutes per game and sank multiple 3-pointers in 10 games as a senior… a three-year contributor at Rockhurst after a medical redshirt season in 2019-20… a 2022-23 NABC Division II All-American after leading the Hawks with 17.9 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, 33.0 minutes per game, a .505 field goal percentage and six double-doubles… nine games with at least 20 points and two with at least 30, including a career high 37 points, as a junior… letterwinner in basketball at Catholic Memorial High School under coaches Dean Bellanti, Mike Serath and Jeremy McGlothlin… a three-time All-Classic 8 Conference selection… named academic all-state… also a two-time all-conference selection in baseball.

#10 Jermaine Coleman, Redshirt-Freshman
Part of program at Purdue Fort Wayne (2023-24), using lone season as redshirt campaign… selected to 2022-23 IBCA All-State team and named Indiana Junior All-Star following 2021-22 season at Park Tudor High School… averaged 20 points per game and topped 1,000 career points as a senior… hit game-winning 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and win sectional championship… averaged 18.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game as a junior… played under head coach Tim Adams at Park Tudor.

#24 Kyle Counts, Freshman
One of two incoming recruits to commit from the Pacific Northwest after helping Wilsonville High School to back-to-back Oregon State Championships, and a third appearance in the championship game, as a scholar athlete… ranked as the No. 12 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2024 rankings… a 2023-24 Oregon All-State First Team selection… a 2023-24 and 2022-23 Northwest Oregon Conference First Team selection… named to the Oregon state all-tournament first team as a senior and second team as a junior… shot 59 percent overall, 40 percent from long range and 79 percent from the free throw line as a senior… a career 59.4 percent shooter overall, the third best percentage in program history… led WHS to 76-11 record overall and 42-3 in conference games through career under head coach Chris Roche… grandfather, Mel Counts, is a 7-footer who won two NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics and helped the United States to a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

#5 Tim Franks, Freshman
A 2023-24 WBCA All-State First Team selection as a senior… two-time North Shore Conference Player of the Year and all-conference first team selection (senior and sophomore seasons)… averaged 27.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game with a program single-season record 83 3-pointers as a senior… shot 55 percent overall, 44 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line as a senior… led program to a 21-6 record and the North Shore Conference title as a junior… an all-conference second team selection as a junior and averaged 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game… shot 49 percent from long range with 68 made 3-pointers as a sophomore… a three-time team captain as voted by teammates… led Homestead High School to three consecutive regional championships, back-to-back North Shore conference championships as a sophomore and junior, and three consecutive 20-win seasons… finished career with 1,923 points, the school's all-time leader by more than 400 points… set school record with 238 career 3-pointers and shot 43 percent through career from beyond the arc… a four-year varsity starter under head coach Sean Crider… member of the National Honor Society and has a twin brother.

#0 Ryan Lafferty, Freshman
2023-24 WIBCA AAA State Player of the Year and Greater Spokane League MVP… earned Washington All-State First Team and all-league first team honors… selected for Washington AAA All-State Game… led MSHS to third place finish at state tournament and GSL title as a senior under head coach David Wagenblast… averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game with two triple-doubles as a senior… MSHS one of four teams selected nationally to compete at Les Schwab Invitational in Portland, Ore… helped Mt. Spokane to a 25-2 record, including a perfect 11-0 mark and first place finish in the district and GSL, and another third place finish at the state tournament as a junior and a 22-7 record, including a 15-2 mark in the district, and a fifth place finish at the state tournament as a sophomore… entered senior season as the program's all-time leader in assists and finished career with 364 total… averaged 14.7 points per game in three years of starting varsity and is second player in program history to score over 1,000 career points (1,222)… second in program history with 483 made field goals and 130 career steals… holds school's single-game records with seven steals, done twice, and 11 assists.

#4 Nolan Minessale, Freshman
Two-time Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year selection at Marquette University High School under head coach Casey Kowalewski… a two-time Wisconsin Division I All-State First Team selection and was named to the GMC All-Conference First Team and all-conference second team… helped team to first state championship since 1999… led team to conference, division I regional and sectional championships… totaled 22.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block per game and shot 60.1 percent overall and 70.1 percent from the free throw line… averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior and scored a career-best 40 points during a win over West Allis Hale… school's all-time leader with 1,695 career points and added 443 career rebounds and 293 assists.

#22 Ramogi Nyagudi, Freshman
Played at DME Academy at St. John's Academies in Delafield, Wis., for one season… chosen to represent Canada Basketball at the FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup 2024… averaged 4.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game at the FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup 2024… named to 2024 All-Canadian Games… won back-to-back provincial championships in 2021-22 and 2022-23 with St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba… tabbed 2022-23 Basketball Manitoba Player of the Year and selected as a provincial tournament all-star… earned 2021-22 AAA All-Manitoba Team honors.

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-- St. Thomas Athletics --

University of St. Thomas Athletics

Men’s Basketball features eight newcomers for 2024-25

Players Mentioned

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Kendall Blue

Rich Byhre

Jermaine Coleman

Kyle Counts

Drake Dobbs

Tim Franks

Ryan Lafferty

Nolan Minessale

Ramogi Nyagudi

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