MOVING ON: CONDIE SIGNS TO PROVIDENCE

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

After spending two years on the court with the Northwest College men's basketball team, sophomore Preston Condie from Price, Utah, signed his letter of intent on April 24 to continue his career at the University of Providence competing at the NAIA level.

"It's been life changing (here)," Condie said. "Some of the best two years in my life. I learned so much on the court, off the court and I've been able to develop as a player and also as a human being and as a man."

Condie primarily came off the bench his freshman year averaging 5.2 points per game before becoming a full-time starter this past season, averaging 10.7 points per game on 53.9% shooting from the field and 43.2% from 3-point range.

Condie also added 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while limiting turnovers, bringing all the intangibles that the Trappers needed on the court.

"I think it's super important (to have those), because my dad always taught me that you can't practice hustle, but you can definitely gain it. Especially the way that we played, especially the way that we ran defense, that hustle was a big part of it and we were able to come out on top in some games," Condie said. "Sometimes we weren't able to come out on top in the games we wanted, but we had two pretty good seasons and were able to make it past the first round both years. It was just amazing."

He said throughout his two years as a Trapper his teammates felt like family, learning from each other as well as coach Andy Ward along the way. 

"I was able to actually call my teammates my brothers — even off the court we would always be with each other," Condie said. "We would not just play basketball, but we'd always hang out and do fun stuff, as well as just being able to have a mentor like coach Ward — how smart he is and how intelligent he is in life just in general, he was able to just guide us through these two years away from home."

Making the decision to go to Providence for Condie primarily came from the strength of the program, as well as his connection with the coaches.

"They have a phenomenal staff. They have a phenomenal program in a really good place that I feel comfortable in, Great Falls, Montana," Condie said. "Both coaches, (J.C.) Isakson and Shyke (Smalls) are both amazing. They have a phenomenal gym and a phenomenal weight room. I'm going to be spending a lot of time there, and I'm super excited as well to pursue my education."

He said that he plans to get in the gym to improve in every area before becoming an Argonaut in the fall.

Condie plans to continue his education with his pursuit of a degree in business administration.

"I was told that Providence has the best business education in the state of Montana," Condie said. "And that to me was something amazing to hear."