GLENDIVE — A pair of Glendive natives will be suiting up for the men's basketball team in their hometown Dawson Community College Buccaneers.

Michael Murphy and Justus Baker both will join the Bucs the school announced in recent press releases. 

Murphy, who played high school basketball for Glendive, has spent the past two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, but will be returning home to play for head coach Joe Peterson. 

“I am super excited to be a Buccaneer,” said Murphy in a DCC news release. “I feel very blessed to have such a great coach in Coach Peterson and a great program right at home. I’m looking forward to being a part of a high-character as well as high-level program. I believe God has led me home, giving me an amazing opportunity.”

During the 2023-2024 season as a freshman at NJC, Murphy averaged 4 points in 25 games. This past season, Murphy was averaging 6.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in his first six games before he got injured and wasn’t able to finish the season. Because of the injury, Murphy was granted a medical hardship from the NJCAA, so he still has three more seasons to play in college (including one more year in junior college), the DCC news release detailed. 

During his high school years in Glendive, Murphy was a three-time all-conference selection, two-time all-state selection, scored over 1,000 points and was selected for the prestigious Midland Roundtable Montana-Wyoming All-Star game. In his senior year, Murphy averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game. 

“We wanted Michael to come to Dawson after high school and it didn’t work out, but we are elated to get him now,” said Peterson in the release. “I think being away from home has helped him grow and develop. He is returning as a grown man who is motivated to have a great last year of junior college. He will add maturity, leadership, skill and shooting to our program. I know our local community will love watching him play and Michael will really enjoy playing in front of his hometown again.”

Baker was born in Glendive and his parents both grew up in Glendive and graduated from Dawson County High School. Baker played at Beach High School, just across the state border in North Dakota, per a DCC news release.

As a senior, Baker played in all 25 games, helping the Beach Buccaneers to a 15-10 record. He averaged 22.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.5 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 30% from the 3-point line and 86% from the free-throw line. He was selected All-District, All-Region and second-team All-State. He was also All-District as a junior.

“Dawson not only has a great basketball program that knows how to win, but they also emphasize character; helping you become the best basketball player and the best person you can be," Baker was quoted in the DCC news release.