By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball head coach Mark Johnson announced the signing of five more players for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The latest additions include three transfers and two high school signings. Coming off a 23-8 record and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023-24, the Tigers welcome Jahvari Martino, Dan Mukuna, Alec Carlson, Aidan McDowell, and Kuet Gatwech. This brings their 2024-25 newcomer list to seven after the early signings of Kansas all-state performers Tori Homan and Eli Lawson back in November. Early Signee Release
Jahvari Martino comes to FHSU from Portland Community College, where he was an All-America selection by the NABC for the Northwest Athletic Conference, while also earning South Region Most Valuable Player and Freshman of the Year honors in 2023-24. Standing at 6-feet, 1-inch, the Gresham, Oregon native is a dynamic guard who averaged a team-best 20.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, but also hauled in an impressive 7.1 rebounds per game in his first year of collegiate competition. He scored a season-high 34 points twice and reached at least 20 points in a game 18 times.
Dan Mukuna comes to FHSU from the University of Denver, where he played in 19 games over the last two seasons. A 6-foot, 8-inch native of Dortmund, Germany, Mukuna enjoyed success at the International Basketball Academy of Munich, where he averaged 17.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the German academy in 2021-22 prior to coming to the United States to start his collegiate career.
Alec Carlson, 6-foot, 3-inch native of Burdett, Kansas, comes to the program from Colby (Kan.) Community College where he played in 28 games as a freshman in 2023-24. He averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game for Colby. Carlson was a KBCA, Wichita Eagle, and Sports in Kansas All-State First Team selection in Kansas Class 1A Division II at Pawnee Heights High School as a senior in 2022-23. He was also a state champion in both the long jump and triple jump in track and field.
Aidan McDowell comes to FHSU from Crete High School in Crete, Nebraska. He was a Nebraska Super State First Team selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and a Second Team pick by the Omaha World Herald. The 6-foot, 4-inch guard averaged 19.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a senior in 2023-24 and set his school’s all-time scoring record, 3-point field goals made record, and free-throws made record. McDowell is also an accomplished tennis player, winning back-to-back state titles at No. 1 singles.
Kuet Gatwech comes to FHSU from Lincoln North Star High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was an all-state honorable mention pick in Nebraska Class A during the 2022-23 season, helping his school to a state tournament appearance that year. As a senior he averaged 11.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Gatwech is a guard standing at 6-feet, 4-inches.
2024-25 Men’s Basketball Newcomers
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School |
| Jahvari Martino | G | 6-1 | So. | Greshman, Ore. | Portland (Ore.) CC |
| Dan Mukuna | F | 6-8 | Jr. | Dortmund, Germany | Denver University |
| Alec Carlson | G | 6-3 | So. | Burdett, Kan. | Colby (Kan.) CC |
| Aidan McDowell | G | 6-4 | Fr. | Crete, Neb. | Crete HS |
| Kuet Gatwech | G | 6-4 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln North Star HS |
| Early Signings | |||||
| Tory Homan | F | 6-7 | Fr. | Wichita, Kan. | Maize South HS |
| Eli Lawson | F | 6-7 | Fr. | Bennington, Kan. | Bennington HS |