FARGO — Gannon Limke said he's always wanted to play college basketball at North Dakota State, so he did something about it. He called head coach Dave Richman.
"I reached out to coach Richman and told him it was my lifelong dream to play for the Bison. I felt like I had a chance to play there," Limke said. "He gave me the opportunity to be a walk-on and join the program."
So the Bison added another player this week, this one closer to home than the last.
The 6-foot-6 wing from Hillsboro, N.D., committed to NDSU. He will join the Bison program this summer. Limke averaged 18.7 points and 12 rebounds for the Burros last season. He was named to the North Dakota Class B all-state second team.
"He's one of the most competitive players I've ever coached in 30 years," Hillsboro-Central Valley coach Elliott Rotvold said. "He wants to win, he has a good motor and he's a good rebounder. He has a nose for the ball, an area he's really improved on the last couple of years. In the two years he started for me, he averaged more than 12 rebounds a game."
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Limke is the second player to commit to NDSU this week. Illinois Wesleyan transfer point guard Luke Yoder also said he was joining the Bison.
Limke said he had interest from some NCAA Division II, NAIA and junior colleges, but believes he can eventually earn playing time at NDSU.
"I know I have work to do and have to learn from the guys, but I'm willing to do that," Limke said. "I think I'm a good all-around player. I'm good in the post. I'm fast, quicker than people think. And I'm athletic at times."
Limke said he has to improve his outside shooting.
"That's kind of what the college game is now. You have to be able to shoot 3-pointers," Limke said.
Richman is likely to add a few more players through the transfer portal in the coming weeks.
The Bison had seven players enter the transfer portal after the season, including four who would've started next season. Grayson Haman, a walk-on from Fargo Davies, was another who entered the portal.
NDSU will have six players returning from the 23-10 team that advanced to the Summit League tournament championship game: forward Grant Nelson, forward Andrew Morgan, guard Boden Skunberg, guard Dez McKinney, guard Kolbe Rada and forward Josh Streit.
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Four scholarship true freshmen will also join Richman's program, including some who could battle for immediate playing time. Noah Feddersen, a 6-10 forward from Menomonie, Wis.; Sam Hastreiter, a 6-7 forward from Lincoln, Neb.; Tajavis Miller, a 6-4 guard from Lubbock, Texas; and Damari Wheeler-Thomas, a 5-11 guard from Elgin, Ill., all signed with NDSU in November.
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