Men's Basketball | 6/15/2026 10:20:00 AM

Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston men's basketball announced the signings of six to their 2026 class.

Local prep products Reggie Winjum (G, Crookston, Minn.), Blake Spiczka (G, Pequot Lakes, Minn.) and Bridger Wilcox (G, Thief River Falls, Minn.) will continue their basketball careers at Minnesota Crookston. Transfers Ethan Koltz (Jr., C, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Southwest Minnesota State), Q On'gele (Jr., F, Portland, Ore. / College of the Seqouias) and Jake Williams (Jr., F, Loomis, Calif. / Consumnes River College) round out the class for the maroon and gold.

Heading into Bryan Beamish' fifth season at the helm of the Golden Eagles, they finished 6-22 last season.

Minnesota Crookston has a number of key returners set to come back to the fold in 2026-27. Sophomores Spencer Swenson (So., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) and Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif.) are the top two returning scorers for the Golden Eagles that will return. Seniors Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Sr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) and Alijah Washington (Sr., G, San Jose, Calif.) combined for 22 points per game and return to the fold. J.D. Roberts (Sr., F, Parkville, Mo.) played massive minutes off the bench and had some big moments. He and Brayden Carlson (Jr., C, Woodbury, Minn.) were two of the three Golden Eagles to play in 28 games.

Owen Chervestad (So., G, Oklee, Minn.) and Brady Westphal (So., G, Fargo, N.D.) combined for 11 starts last season as freshmen. Quincy Everson (So., G, Goodyear, Ariz.) played in 11 games, all off the bench, before an injury.

Coach Beamish is excited with the class and feels they can mesh well with the returners well.

"I am very excited about this recruiting class that we have added to our program.  We have a good mix of high school and transfers.  We were able to return a core group of players and with these additions, I'm really looking forward to next season."

Beamish credits his assistant coaches, Tim Lubke and Kyle Hunt, for finding the talent and being able to add versatility and depth to next years' roster.

"Coach Lubke and Coach Hunt did a very good job identifying these players and understanding what pieces we needed to add to our roster.  We feel like we were able to add depth in all positions which will help us tremendously next season." 

The signees who are reported in this release either signed an Athletic Aid Agreement or an Institutional Declaration of Intent (IDI). All signees released by the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the compliance office that all documents have been properly signed and dated and have been authorized for release.  

Ethan Koltz (Jr., C, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Southwest Minnesota State)

Koltz will don the maroon and gold after spending the previous three seasons at Southwest Minnesota State…Will have two years of eligibility left…Played in eight career games as a Mustang, all off the bench…Was a standout at Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls, helping his team to a third place finish at State as a junior, while leading his team in blocks…Was a member of the football team that won the State championship as a senior…Was an academic all-state member and was a part of the Honors Society in high school. 

Ethan is the son of Kristi and Chris Koltz…Plans to major in Business Management at Minnesota Crookston.

Coach Beamish on Ethan

"I am excited to have Ethan join our program.  He knows the NSIC and was a part of a successful program.  His size will impact us immediately on both ends of the floor.  He has a good feel for the game and touch around the rim."



Blake Spiczka (Fr., G, Pequot Lakes, Minn. / Pequot Lakes High School)

Spiczka will join the Golden Eagles after a standout career leading the Patriots of Pequot Lakes…Spiczka was a three-time all-district and all-section performer three years in a row from his sophomore through senior year and is a two-time all-conference performer his junior and senior year for the Patriots…Led the Patriots to four Minnesota State tournaments, finishing fifth place as a sophomore in 2024 and a third place finish this past season as a senior…In the classroom, Blake was a two-time National Honors Society performer.

Blake is the son of Hannah and Rich Spiczka of Pequot Lakes…Plan to major in Economics and minor in English while a student-athlete at Minnesota Crookston.

Coach Beamish on Blake

"Blake just finished off a very good high school career where he won a lot of games.  Making state tournament runs and performing at the level he did, there is no doubt that will translate to the next level. He is a High IQ player and his unselfishness/playmaking ability will be a good addition to our program."

Q On'gele (Jr., F, Portland, Ore. / College of the Sequoias)

Ongele will join the Golden Eagles as the fourth junior college transfer on the roster, joining JQ Strong and Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. and newly-signed Jake Williams…Helped lead the Giants to a 23-7 record this past season…Played in 29 games this past season, starting in nine, while playing 18 minutes per game…Finished the year averaging 6.2 points per game on 176 field goal attempts, with 144 of those from long range…Had nine double-figure scoring outputs.

Q is the son of Lavertis Fuller and Patrick On'gele…Plans to major in Physical Therapy while a student-athlete at Minnesota Crookston.

Coach Beamish on Q-Shawn

"Adding Q-Shawn to our program gives us an athletic, physical wing that can really stretch the floor.  He is a proven shooter that also has the ability to get to the paint.  I also feel like he can be a very good on-ball defender with his ability to guard multiple positions."



Reggie Winjum (Fr., G, Crookston, Minn. / Crookston High School)

Winjum will play for his hometown college and don the maroon and gold…All-conference performer three years in a row for the Crookston Pirates…1,000 point scorer for the Pirates…4.0 GPA all throughout high school…National Honor Society member…His sister, Halle, is a member of the Golden Eagles women's basketball program.

Reggie is the son of Leah and Chris Winjum of Crookston…He is undecided on his major at Minnesota Crookston.

His grandpa Rod Olson played baseball and basketball at Concordia-Moorhead and his uncle Jake Olson played tennis and football at Concordia-Moorhead…Jeff Olson, another uncle, played baseball at Mayville State and his cousin Cael Olson, played baseball at Concordia.

Coach Beamish on Reggie

"I am thrilled to have Reggie join our program.  Being from Crookston and getting to know him over the last few years, he fits what we look for in recruits.  He is a versatile player and always in the gym working on his game."

Bridger Wilcox (Fr., G, Thief River Falls, Minn. / Thief River Falls High School)

Wilcox will be another local product donning the maroon and gold, joining the likes of Owen Chervestad, Reggie Winjum and Brady Westphal on the current 2026-27 roster…Scored over 1,000 points and collected 500 rebounds in his high school career for Thief River Falls High School…Averaged nearly 22 points per game as a junior…Three year starter for TRF…One of 12 one thousand point scorers in Thief River Falls history.

Bridger is the son of Lindsey Drury and Erin and David Wilcox…Plans to major in Business Management at Minnesota Crookston.

Coach Beamish on Bridger

"Bridger is another very versatile player.  Plays with an edge and toughness, which will translate to the next level and the physical NSIC.  He is an area player that we are excited to have join our program."

Jake Williams (Jr., F, Sacramento, Calif. / Consumnes River College)

Williams is set to be the fourth Californian on the roster for Minnesota Crookston for 2026-27, which would be the most since last season and 2005-06, when the Golden Eagles had three on the roster…Led the Hawks of Consumnes River College to a 23-6 record, losing in the conference championship game…Played in 26 games, starting in 24…Shot 52 percent from the field last year, averaging 13.3 points per game, being named to the all-conference first team…Had a fantastic freshman year, starting 26 games, averaging 11.7 points per game, being named to the all-conference honorable mention…Scored more than 650 points in two years at Consumnes River College…At Del Loro High School, was named to first team all-league in both basketball and football.

Jake is the son of Rachel and Richard Williams.

Coach Beamish on Jake

"I am thrilled to have Reggie join our program.  Being from Crookston and getting to know him over the last few years, he fits what we look for in recruits.  He is a versatile player and always in the gym working on his game."