The Transfer

Missoula, Mont.

Joe Pridgen holds his five-month-old daughter Samarra as she wakes up Aug. 31, 2024, in their apartment in Missoula, Mont. Since Joe usually has early morning workouts, he is often the one making breakfast for his wife and daughter. He also likes to spend that time before practice holding his daughter ahead of his busy day.

Joe Pridgen lifts weights Aug. 30, 2024, in the Adams Center during a workout session with his teammates at the University on Montana in Missoula, Mont. Joe is quickly finding his place in a new team full of new faces after he transferred from Northeastern University to continue his collegiate basketball career in Montana.

Joe Pridgen holds his five-month-old daughter Samarra during breakfast Aug. 31, 2024, in his apartment in Missoula, Mont.

Joe Pridgen warms up with his teammates before practice Aug. 29, 2024, in the Adams Center at the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont.

Joe Pridgen holds his five-month-old daughter Samarra over his head before dinner Aug. 31, 2024, as his wife Grace watches on in their apartment in Missoula, Mont.

Joe Pridgen sits and jokes with his teammates before practice Aug. 29, 2024, in the Adams Center at the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont.

Joe Pridgen gently rubs his wife Grace’s face while they enjoy alone time on the couch Aug. 31, 2024, in their apartment in Missoula, Mont. Grace and Joe both balance busy schedules and play an important role in taking care of their five-month-old daughter Samarra, so any time the two of them get alone is special.

Joe Pridgen sits in class Aug. 30, 2024, in McGill Hall at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Joe is working to find balance in his new responsibilities as a father, student, husband and Division 1 athlete.

Grace and Joe Pridgen work as a team in the evening to bathe their five-month-old daughter Samarra Aug. 30, 2024, at their apartment in Missoula, Mont.

Grace Pridgen breastfeeds her five-month-old daughter Samarra as her husband Joe Pridgen reads a bedtime story in their Missoula, Mont. apartment Aug. 30, 2024.