SILVER CITY, N.M. – Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball Coach Mark Bunker has announced 14 new signees for the 2023-24 basketball season. This Mustangs will have a new look on the court this year in Bunker's first year, as Jeven Beltran (Las Cruces, NM/Centennial High School) and Brandon Cottrell (El Paso, TX/Clint High School) are the only returners.
 
LaMarqus Merchant Jr: 6'2 Guard | Utica, NY | Transfer from Niagara Community College 
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 8.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.6 SPG. Started 30 of the 32 games played that season.
 
"Marqus is a dynamic floor general that is a proven winner. At his previous JC he led them to back-to-back national tournaments and helped them to achieve a national ranking of #2 in the country."
 
Aaron Miller (Queens Village, NY/Benjamin Cardozo High School): 6'6 Guard | Queens Village, NY | Transfer from Niagara Community College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 APG and 1.1 SPG Started 31 of 31 games that season.
 
"Aaron is long and athletic and can play multiple positions on the floor. He is great on both ends on the floor and comes from a JC that won 57 games in his two seasons as a starter and all-conference performer."
 
Evan Butts (Houston, TX/Cy Fair High School): 6'0 Guard | Houston, TX | Transfer from Arizona Western College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 11.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.0 APG and 1.1 SPG.  Started 32 of 32 games played that season.
 
"Evan is a pure shooter and fantastic on ball defender. He comes from one of the top JC's in the country and will make a big impact for us on the perimeter."
 
Allen Fordham (Far Rockaway, NY/Queens High School For Technology): 6'4 Guard | Rockaway, NY | Transfer from Niagara Community College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 12.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.9 APG and 1.4 SPG. Started 21 of 24 games played that season.
 
"Allen is a strong, physical, and athletic scoring guard. He was an all-conference player and has experience competing at the national tournament."
 
Jordan Williams (Pensacola, FL/J. M. Tate High School): 6'4 Guard | Pensacola, FL | Transfer from Enterprise State Community College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 11.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG and 0.4 APG. Started 25 of 28 games played that season.
 
"Jordan is a pure shooter and scorer that can score in bunches. He has proven that he has the ability to compete at the highest level and we are excited to see what he can do with us."
 
Khalifah Muhammad (East St. Louis, IL/Belle Ville High School East): 6'7 Guard | East St. Louis, IL | Transfer from Phoenix College
 
2022-2023 Season: Utilized Redshirt
 
"Khalifah is a long and athletic guard that will create match-up problems for most teams. He comes from a strong JC and is ready to take his game to another level."
 
Judah Casuas: 6'1 Guard | Albuquerque, NM | Incoming Freshman from Academy High School
 
 "Judah is a gifted and skilled guard that we are excited to get started. He comes from one of the best prep programs in the country and is used to competing with high level competition on a daily basis."
 
Nik Atanasovs (Riga, Latvia/): 6'7 Wing | Riga, Latvia | Transfer from Chandler-Gilbert Community College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 12.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.1 APG. Started 31 of 31 games played that season.
 
"Nik is a highly skilled combo-forward that has been playing at a very high level the past few years. He has experience at the NCAA D2 level which will help him to get the other inexperienced guys ready to compete."
 
Aiden Wall (North Richland Hills, TX/Keller Central High School): 6'0 Guard | North Richland Hills, TX | Incoming Freshman from Keller Central High School
 
"Aiden comes to us as a talented point guard that will be an incoming freshman. He has great leadership skills on and off the court, and we are excited to see him develop with us."
 
Donovan Black (Las Cruces, NM/Del Valle High School): 6'6 Wing | Las Cruces, NM | Incoming Freshman from Del Valle High School
 
 "Donovan is a skilled wing that we are very happy to have with us as a freshman. He will be able to fill a lot of roles for us with his versatility, and we can't wait to see him with us."
 
Cortaviaus Seales (Rock Island, IL/North Scott High School): 6'1 Guard | Rock Island, IL | Transfer from Black Hawk-Moline Community College
 
2022-2023 Season: Averaged 16.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 1.8 SPG. Started 22 of 23 games played that season.
 
 "Tavi is a very skilled point guard that can score at will when it's needed. Having a guy like him that can go get a bucket or be a distributor when the time is needed makes him so very versatile for us and allows us to be creative with our line ups and match ups."
 
Tanner Vogel (Stratham, Australia/Georgiana Molloy Anglican School): 6'11 | Stratham, Australia | Transfer from Cochsie College
 
2022-2023 Season: Utilized Redshirt
 
"Tanner is a 6'11" forward that can play both inside and out with his skills and shooting ability. He comes form one of the best JC's in the country and had the chance to workout with professionals in his native Australia for the majority of his off-season."
 
Prosper Obidiebube (Houston, TX/Aspire Academy): 6'8 Forward | Houston, TX | Transfer from Mars Hills University

2022-2023 Season: Averaged 7.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 1.2 APG. Started 8 of 26 games played that season. 
 
"Obi comes to us to as a transfer that will bolster us on the inside with his size and athletic ability. He has been very productive at this level in the past and we are excited to see what he can do with us."
 
James McCallum (Long Beach, CA./St. Benard's High School): 6'6 Wing | Long Beach, CA | Incoming Freshman from St. Bernard High School
 
"James is an incoming Freshman that comes to us from a prestigious high school program where he played a huge role for them. He will be able to go inside and out for us and has a very high ceiling for his development."