CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball program announced the signing of Isaiah Bundy-Smith (F, 6-6 210, Rugby, N.D./Golden State Prep (Calif.). Bundy-Smith is the fifth Golden Eagle signee joining Xzavier Jones (G/F, 6-4 190, Milwaukee, Wis./Iowa Lakes C.C.), Chandler Meeks (G, 6-1 185, Omaha, Neb./Omaha Westside H.S.), C.J. Ray (G/F, 6-4 205, Four Oaks, N.C./Frank Phillips College (Texas), and Blaize Sagna (G, 6-3 190, London, England/Howard College (Texas).

"Isaiah comes from an athletic hockey family," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "Though I'm glad basketball is his passion. His father Bobby played for our old hockey coach and Assistant Athletic Director Gary Warren, whom I respect very much. Gary knows athletics and people very well, and Isaiah comes very highly recommended. Isaiah has good size and shooting ability. He can also handle the ball well for his size. He played on a very good Rugby High School team in North Dakota and had an important year of growth at Golden State Prep. I am excited to coach him for the next four years."
 
Bundy-Smith will have four years to compete for the Golden Eagles. He joins Meeks as freshmen joining the UMN Crookston men's basketball program. He joins a front court that returns Nathaniel Powell (F/C, Nottingham, England) and Marcus Thompson (F/C, Brooklyn, N.Y.).

Minnesota Crookston is looking to build on an 8-19 (5-16 NSIC) record during the 2021-22 season. The Golden Eagles are entering their ninth season under Head Coach Dan Weisse.

The student-athlete listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to compete on the men's basketball team at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.

Isaiah Bundy-Smith (F, 6-6 210, Rugby, N.D./Golden State Prep (Calif.)
Bundy-Smith played his post-grad season at Golden State Prep in Napa, Calif. His team went 32-6 against national post-graduate teams from around the country. Bundy-Smith had a season-high 24 points on 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, leading his team to a win at the Golden State Classic Championship in Walnut Creek, Calif. He is a 2022 Brian Cain Mental Performance Mastery for Athletes (MPM) Athlete. He has spent his summer working with The Compound at the West Oakland Boys and Girls Club and Jamtown/Soldiertown, with overseas pros, and with Oakland Rebels AAU athletes. He competed as a prep at Rugby High School in Rugby, N.D. He helps his team to a 71-11 record, winning three-straight district championships, and back-to-back region championships. Bundy-Smith served as a senior captain. He was selected to the North Dakota State Lions 44^th All-Star Team. He finished in the top 10 in eight tournament stats as a senior at Rugby H.S. As a junior, Bundy-Smith had a season-high 17 points. He had a double-double against Bishop Ryan H.S., and a triple-double versus Dunseith H.S. Bundy-Smith was named Prep Hoops Player of the Week following the Dunseith H.S. performance. He was a multi-sport athlete competing as a four-year track and field varsity letter winner. He played AAU basketball with the North Dakota Attack.

Isaiah had an uncle who played college hockey (Bowdoin), and two uncles who played junior hockey. One uncle played professionally in the NHL minor leagues with the Minnesota North Stars and overseas in the Swiss league. Isaiah's father played hockey for former Golden Eagle Coach Gary Warren in Bottineau and returned 12 years later to coach with Gary in his final season before Warren took the UMN Crookston job. He is the son of Ellie Bundy-Smith and Bob Smith. He plans to major in business at Minnesota Crookston.