ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western head men's basketball coach Will Martin announced the addition of three Division I transfers to the Griffons' recruiting class for the 2022-23 season.

ETHAN KILGORE - FRESHMAN SHOOTING GUARD/FORWARD, 6-5, 210 LBS - GOWER, MISSOURI
TRANSFERRING FROM: THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO (BIG SKY)
2021-22: 9-22 overall, 6-14 in Big Sky Conference 

First up is the former East Buchanan Bulldog, Ethan Kilgore, who played his high school ball just 25 minutes away from St. Joseph. Kilgore transfers from the University of Idaho with two seasons under his belt. He played in 30 of the Vandals' 31 games and started in four of them.

The 6-5 guard averaged 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest. Kilgore shot 77% from the free throw line while collecting 440 minutes — an average of 14.7 a game. Kilgore is joining a Griffon squad who went 14-17 overall and 10-12 in the MIAA under now third-year head coach Will Martin. 

"We are excited Ethan chose to come back home to finish his college basketball career," Coach Martin said. "He brings a level of toughness that will make an immediate impact on our program."

2020-21 SEASON

• Member of the Big Sky All-Academic Team
• Played in 21 games, making one start as a true freshman
• Averaged 4.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg
• Shot 43.0 percent from the field
• Scored a season-high 10 points against Southern Utah (Jan. 9)

EAST BUCHANAN HIGH SCHOOL CAREER

• Played for Jered Curl at East Buchanan HS
• Helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back second place finishes in the Missouri Class 2 District 16 Tournament
• Team finished 19-7 his senior season and 23-2 his junior season
• Named First Team All-State for three consecutive years
• Averaged a double-double in both his junior and senior seasons
• Scored 25.6 points per game his senior year
• Is the all-time leading scorer at East Buchanan with 2,487 points scored
• Four-time First Team All-Conference
• Four-time First Team All-District
• McDonalds All-American Nominee
• Four-time team captain

JULIUS DIXON - REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SHOOTING GUARD/FORWARD, 6-7, 202 LBS - FAYETTEVILLE, TENNESSEE
TRANSFERRING FROM: MOREHEAD STATE (OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE)  
2021-22: 23-11 overall, 13-5 in Ohio Valley Conference 

Julius Dixon did not play for Morehead Stare in the 2021-22 season due to a redshirt, but he played in 21 games in 2020-21. In his Morehead State career, the former Eagle earned a spot in the starting five six times with while playing 43 contests overall, averaging 3.2 points per game. He was also a part of the the Bluegrass Showcase All-Tournament team during his sophomore campaign.

Dixon diced Transylvania for a career-high of 16 points and five rebounds on Dec. 9, 2020. The future Griffons' first year playing college ball ended suddenly like most in 2019-20 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. 

"Julius Dixon is an elite athlete with a great skill set for the game," Coach Martin said. His length and ability to shoot it will make him a tough matchup in our league, but his ability to guard at a high level makes him the most unique."

2020-21 SEASON

• Averaged 9.6 minutes per game
• Scored 3.6 points a game
• Scored 75 points (136 in collegiate career)
• Shot 41.2 % in field goals
• Nabbed 1.5 rebounds a contest

FAYETTEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAREER

• Averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game
• Team was 7-7 but went 12-2 after Dixon was inserted into starting rotation
• District 8A Tournament MVP

MATTHEW NUNEZ - FRESHMAN CENTER , 6-10, 246 LBS - NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA
TRANSFERRING FROM: EAST TENNESSEE STATE (SOUTHERN CONFERENCE)
 2021-22: 15-17, 7-11 in Southern Conference 

Hailing from Newport News, Virginia, Matthew Nunez comes to Missouri Western after playing in seven games for the Buccaneers in 2021-22. While his playing time with the Bucs was limited, Nunez played the 2020-21 campaign at Hargrave Military Academy where his team went 31-1. Prior to his time there, the big man played a big role with Walsingham High School in Williamsburg, Virginia.

"Matt is going to be a force to be reckoned with in our league," Coach Martin said. "We are extremely excited to bring in a big man like Matt with the ability to enforce his will on the blocks and in the lane!"

WALSINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL CAREER 

• First-team, all-state and all-conference honors
• Broke the program's blocked shots record with 61
• Broke single-game rejection record with seven in 67-43 win over Greenbrier Christian in 2019-20

2022-23 SEASON OUTLOOK

The Griffons lock and load this offseason after losing seniors Tony Chukwuemeke, JaQuaylon Mays and Caleb Bennett. Coach Martin — who led MWSU in 2021 to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 — believes these three transfers can fill some leftover shoes and fit the mold and motto of Missouri Western men's basketball.

"We are beyond thrilled to bring these 3 young men into our family and culture," Coach Martin said. "Each player is unique in personality and skill set, but the constant variables for are all three are talent and toughness."