NDSU Men’s Basketball Adds Pair of Players to Complete 2026-27 Roster
7/20/2026 11:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University men's basketball team has added Karl Poom and Santiago Paz Vazquez to the 2026-27 roster, head coach David Richman announced Monday, July 20.
Poom is a 6-foot-8 forward from Tartu, Estonia, who played the 2025-26 collegiate season at Northern Arizona, and Paz is a 6-foot-7 guard from Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Poom played in all 32 games for NAU last season, averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20 minutes per game in Big Sky Conference play, including a pair of 20-plus point games. He spent his freshman season at San Francisco in 2024-25.
"We are very excited to be able to add an experienced player with Karl's size and skill to our roster this late," said Richman. "Karl has already had success at this level, and we are eager to add him to the Bison Family."
Paz played for Spain at the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023, where he averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per contest.
"Santi is a player that brings national team experience at a very high level and a work ethic to match," said Richman. "He has great size and skill for his position. Bison fans will love both his basketball ability and his personality."
Poom and Paz played against each other in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023, with Spain winning 78-56 in the group phase. Poom averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for Estonia in the tournament.
NDSU swept the 2026 Summit League regular season and tournament championships and earned its sixth NCAA Tournament berth since 2009.
Poom is a 6-foot-8 forward from Tartu, Estonia, who played the 2025-26 collegiate season at Northern Arizona, and Paz is a 6-foot-7 guard from Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Poom played in all 32 games for NAU last season, averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20 minutes per game in Big Sky Conference play, including a pair of 20-plus point games. He spent his freshman season at San Francisco in 2024-25.
"We are very excited to be able to add an experienced player with Karl's size and skill to our roster this late," said Richman. "Karl has already had success at this level, and we are eager to add him to the Bison Family."
Paz played for Spain at the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023, where he averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per contest.
"Santi is a player that brings national team experience at a very high level and a work ethic to match," said Richman. "He has great size and skill for his position. Bison fans will love both his basketball ability and his personality."
Poom and Paz played against each other in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023, with Spain winning 78-56 in the group phase. Poom averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for Estonia in the tournament.
NDSU swept the 2026 Summit League regular season and tournament championships and earned its sixth NCAA Tournament berth since 2009.
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