Local Athletes Head to Tech
Montana Tech head men’s basketball coach Adam Hiatt has added to his first recruiting class from the local high schools, yet again. The first-year head coach announced three Montana high school products: Dylan Pannabecker from Choteau, Wyatt Harwood from Cut Bank.
Pannabecker, a 6-foot-4 guard averaged 21.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season. The two-time Class B Player of the Year led the Choteau Bulldogs to an incredible 52-0 record and second straight State Championship. He was also named the 2016 State Tournament MVP. The Great Falls Tribune selected him for their Super State team as a junior and a senior. Dylan was KSEN's Athlete of the year for the 2014-2015 academic year.
“We are ecstatic to add Dylan Pannabecker to our basketball program,” said head coach Adam Hiatt. “We are getting a tremendous winner and competitor. He was one of the most versatile players in the entire state these past couple seasons. He possesses tremendous intangibles that will immediately translate to the Frontier Conference, such as a relentless motor, a thirst to defend, and a desire to improve. He is a great fit for us and we couldn’t be happier for him to be an Oredigger.”
“I couldn’t be happier playing basketball and attending Montana Tech. I’d like to thank my family for all their support,” said Pannabecker.
The son of Laurie McKinnon and Gary Pannabecker, Dylan plans on pursuing a degree in general engineering.
Just a little more than an hour north of Choteau, Wyatt Harwood also signed to play basketball with Tech next fall. The 6-6 forward was a four-year starter for the Wolves. He was selected first team All-Conference last season averaging nearly a double-double with 15.6 points and 9.7 rebounds while shooting 63.9 percent from the field.
“Wyatt Harwood is exceptionally tough and strong for an incoming freshman,” Hiatt said. “He has a big frame and a good skill set. He can step outside and shoot with range as easily as score around the rim. The sooner as he adapts to the speed and physical play of the college level the sooner he will be a very productive player in our program. Wyatt comes from a terrific family, is very coachable, and has that blue-collar work ethic that our program will be built on.”