Fort Lewis College men’s basketball will have another former player at the Division I level next season.
Guard Stewart Erhart has committed to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for the 2026-2027 season. Erhart will have two years of eligibility remaining after spending three years at FLC.
“I feel not so overwhelmed,” Erhart said. “I can focus on not trying to find a school, but just on my playing and getting back to basketball, rather than trying to find a team. It was overwhelming talking to people, coaches trying to call me while I’m in class, stuff like that.”
Erhart spent three years in the Skyhawk program. He came to Fort Lewis College from Tanana, Alaska, where he was a two-time Alaska Men's Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year for West Valley High School. Erhart redshirted the 2023-2024 season when FLC went 29-4 overall and won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament championship and went to the NCAA Tournament.
As a redshirt freshman, Erhart was one of the few players who stayed to play for head coach Jordan Mast after head coach Bob Pietrack resigned. In 2024-2025, Erhart averaged 8.0 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game and 2.5 steals per game. The Skyhawks went 19-12 overall and advanced to the RMAC tournament semifinals.
The Alaska native took a big step up in his redshirt sophomore year in 2025-2026. He averaged 17.9 PPG, 3.3 APG, and led Division II with 3.7 SPG. He had a sixth sense for where the ball was going to be on defense, taking advantage of FLC’s pressing style to terrorize opposing ball handlers. Erhart took on the primary creator role for an FLC offense that was devastated by injury. He had a great year shooting the ball and getting inside.
Combine the offense and defense, Erhart won the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-RMAC. Erhart became the first Skyhawk men’s basketball player to win RMAC Defensive Player of the Year since 2014.
FLC went 18-11 overall and 15-5 in the RMAC this season. At his best, Erhart was putting up stat lines like he did in the RMAC tournament semifinals against top-seeded Black Hills State, finishing with 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine steals.
After his stellar season, Erhart realized he had the opportunity to do something not a lot of Native American players get to do: play at the Division I level. His brother told him to think bigger after his great season. Erhart doubled all his stats. He knows he’s skinny for the Division I at 6-foot-2-inches and 170 pounds, but Erhart felt confident a Division I coach would take a chance on him.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me because I’ve been here the longest,” Erhart said. “I’ve been here longer than Jordan (Mast). I've been around the campus a lot. I stayed on campus for two years. Just being far away from home, I made this my home.”
Erhart will remember the culture of FLC. Everyone was very lovable and generous. He never had a rude encounter downtown, and he loves how nice and respectful people in Durango are. The beauty of Durango has also stood out to Erhart. It’s the most beautiful town he’s ever been to, and he didn’t realize how many hiking trails there were until recently.
Durango has left a big mark on Erhart, as he appreciates the people who have complimented him on the street or told him they come to the games because of him. Erhart thinks of Durango as a stepping stone as God intended for him to come to FLC.
Once Erhart entered the transfer portal, he was in contact with about 10 Division I schools, but none of them wanted to get on a Zoom call or offer him. Erhart’s agent was telling him it wasn’t a basketball or stats problem with him; it was Erhart’s size that didn’t pass the Division I eye test. Erhart heard from a lot of Division II schools, including the powerhouse Nova Southeastern.
“I was looking for someone who could enhance my game and have resources to do that, and want to do that,” Erhart said. “I was really looking forward to see if I can make that jump … and play against better competition. I come from a small town too, so going to a bigger city would give me more growth, I never experienced a city … I’m looking to prove myself right and to prove everyone wrong.”
Once Green Bay reached out in early April, Erhart knew that the coaching staff was interested in him. The money was right, and Erhart felt like the coaching staff knew how to make him stronger. After a Zoom call with the coaches, he verbally committed on April 14.
Green Bay is led by second-year head coach Doug Gottlieb. A former star college basketball player for Oklahoma State, Gottlieb became a broadcaster and radio show host for major sports networks. The Phoenix finished 4-28 overall under Gottlieb in 2024-2025, but improved to 18-15 overall and 12-8 in the Horizon League last season.
“This summer, I have to go there and be there for eight weeks,” Erhart said. They want me to improve on my body, so I get a feel of a D1-speed practice with them. He (Gottlieb) wants me to make plays. That's what he got me for. He told me, ‘You make things happen, and that's what I want you for.’”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
