MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Updated list:

Player	Height	Position	High School	College
Zak Krueger	5-11	G	Homestead (IN)	Albion
Joey Tocco	6-0	G	Macomb Dakota (MI)	Albion
Tony Honkala	6-2	G	Howell (MI)	Albion
Chanse Crittendon	6-4	G/F	Timothy Christian (IL)+H1	Albion
Lamar Lee	6-4	G/F	Muskegon (MI)	Albion
Landen Moore-Pierce	6-2	G	Flushing (MI)	Alma
Xavier Bargesser	6-4	G	Grass Lake (MI)	Alma
Jackson Raymond	6-4	G	East Jordan (MI)	Alma
Xavier Glenn	6-7	F/C	Macomb Dakota (MI)	Alma
Colton Meister	6-8	C	Lapeer (MI)	Alma
Carter Chase	5-11	G	Grant (MI)	Calvin
Blake Pedersen	5-11	G	West Ottawa (MI)	Calvin
Luke Scheffers	6-1	G	St. Charles (IL)	Calvin
Evan May	6-3	W	GR Christian (MI)	Calvin
Marcus Bult	6-4	W	Wheaton Academy (IL)	Calvin
Trent Mulder	6-4	G	Covenant Christian (MI)	Calvin
Ty Mulder	6-5	W	Covenant Christian (MI)	Calvin
Henry Goldkuhle	6-7	F	Traverse City Central (MI)	Calvin
Jake Zuiderveen	6-8	F	Kalamazoo Christian (MI)	Calvin
Anees Abdul-Raheem	6-0	G	Oak Hill Academy (VA)	Hope
Ethan Clason	6-0	G	Jenison (MI)	Hope
Brandon Ducoing	6-0	G	Yorkville (IL)	Hope
William Pujals	6-0	G	Loyola Academy (IL)	Hope
Alijah Nelson	6-1	G	Bolingbrook (IL)	Hope
Derek Petersen	6-2	G	Greenwood Christian (IN)	Hope
Anders Rasmussen	6-2	G	Holland (MI)	Hope
Mitchell Cook	6-3	G/F	Williamston (MI)	Hope
Griffin Gleason	6-4	F	Eaton Rapids (MI)	Hope
Jaret Griffith	6-4	G	Stetson - transfer	Hope
Noah Hedrick	6-4	W	Covenant Christian (IN)	Hope
Bryce Sanders	6-4	F	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Hope
Robert Nocek	6-5	F	Wheaton St Francis (IL)	Hope
Dan Delmotte	6-6	F	Marshall (MI)	Hope
Jaxon Halbert	6-6	W	Holland Christian (MI)	Hope
Tanner Wiegerink	6-7	PF	West Ottawa (MI)	Hope
Devin Cheaney	6-8	C	Batavia  (IL)	Hope
Ty Horky	6-1	G	Manchester (MI)	Kalamazoo
Bobby Samples	6-1	G	Howell (MI)	Kalamazoo
Jaylen Hopson	5-10	G	Mona Shores (MI)	Olivet
Jaylen Hopson	5-10	G	Mona Shores (MI)	Olivet
Cade McMillan		G	Lake Fenton (MI)	Olivet
Nmeso Nnedbedum	6-2	G	Siena Heights - transfer	Olivet
Kolby Bullard	5-11	G	Lapel (IN)	Trine
Christian Knox	5-11	G	Ypsilanti Community (MI)	Trine
Sam Buckingham	6-5	F	Nouvel Catholi Central (MI)	Trine
Logan Suchland	6-5	G/F	New Breman (OH)	Trine
Grant Gresham	6-6	F	LaPorte (IN)	Trine

[HOPEful]

Will be a very interesting year in Holland.

Evan Thomas is listed on the team website as a forward. Clayton Dykhouse at PG, Jaret Griffith at SG, and Thomas at SF is a VERY exciting underclassmen core. If Nocek, Wiegerink, and/or Cheaney develop into solid starters, this team could be much improved by the 2021-22 season, or maybe even by the end of this coming season. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'm counting 17 incoming Hope recruits (with one sophomore transfer)... with 17 guys already in the program coming back next year, I wonder what will happen with the roster. Will be really interesting to keep an eye on - that's a huge class.

I actually don't think this incoming Hope class is necessarily larger than normal.  I have been to many first practices (aka beginning of try-outs) over the years, and it's not unusual for there to be 35 or more guys there.  There are always guys who played in HS, weren't necessarily recruited, but believed they were good enough.  There are always some hard realities through that process, but ultimately you typically see that the kids who were actually recruited by the coaching staff along with the returning players make-up the majority of the team.  Although a nice surprise does happen occasionally.

So why do we know about 17 "recruits" this year (well 16 plus a transfer).  Because every kid who played high school in basketball, and has aspirations to play in college, and has decided to go to Hope is going to share it om Twitter - cause that is the cool thing to do.  Some of those shares on Twitter could have even surprised the coaching staff (kids they didn't really know about).  IT's really become a status thing for the kids to be able to share, and there is certainly no harm in it.  It does mean we are likely going to see kids listed who do not make the team (Varsity or JV).

Last year Hope had 9 kids on the list. 2 of them (Dykhouse and Thomas) were significant Varsity players (and were also heavily recruited by the coaching staff).  The other 7 played JV, with a couple of them seeing some late season, late game Varsity minutes.   

Last year for the entire league, the list had 53 players.  5 of those players did not make a roster.  This year (so far) we are at 47, with quite a bit of time left for more to be added.

[ziggy]

The Calvin basketball Twitter account is back for another day of commitment posts. Add Jack Bristol - Calvin Christian to the list.
https://twitter.com/CalvinMensBball/status/1260209376679342081

[formerd3db]

FDF:

You obviously know more about the bb team and what transpires with regard to the recruiting and tryout process than me ( since I  concentrate on FB).  Yet, 17 recruited players (if all of them were actually recruited or at least contacted at some time by the coaching staff) is more than the 9 from last year's list and I was  intending to refer to those actual recruited players. As we both mentioned,  no one knows the actual number of total interested players, whether those recruited or those who weren't and decide they would like to take a shot at making the team.

Admittedly, I did not know there were that many players who show up for tryouts- 35+ is a huge number. That is a good "problem" for any program to have,  including a successful one such as Hope has been over the past couple of decades (not counting this past season🙄🙂). And for sure, the social media thing is what is the "norm" for today's generation (although we all know that has it's detrimental aspects as well). I think it is great that many of these young men make a decision and have the courage to "go for it" and give it their best shot in trying to achieve a goal for playing bb at the next level.  However, as great as that is, it can be an extremely disappointing experience for some, who perhaps are not realistic about their chances or ability.  For those who are really serious about having a collegiate BB career, I hope they would have checked out the program as to returning players with regard to evaluating their realistic chances of making the team- you know, the "numbers game." Of course, there is always a sleeper, someone who perhaps either slipped under the radar as far as recruiting or is a late developer or just decided they would like to try. However, often (IMO, and this applies to fb as well or any sport for that matter), these kids do not realize that even at the DIII, the competition and talent level is overall beyond what it is on h.s. And that can have a huge effect on a young person as they experience their first year in college if they do not get playing time or the experience they believe they should have.

We all agree what the real purpose of going to (and choosing a college) is, although certainly, athletics is an integral component of that for some people, and there is nothing wrong with that. All I'm trying to say here is that it is unfortunate that some of these young people have no clue what is involved, and perhaps they just didn't know all what is really involved or have someone to help guide them in the information and selection process on their lists of potential choices, although certainly, economics has a big part in that as well. We all know how attrition goes by the senior year in fb, but it is even more of an inherent given in bb simply due to the limited number on a team (and even if you have JV teams).  But that is life and going through the process is just one of those experiences for some. Anyway, my apologies for this rambling attempt at philosophy- it is a long way to go about saying that I was just surprised at the large number(s) of potential players for Hope's bb whether officially recruited prospects and/or those others who decide to show up for tryouts- and give it a shot🙂 and how I look at college athletic recruiting. Thanks for the additional info I was not aware of. You guys over here on the bb board are amazing with all the program info in all aspects. I wish we could get some participation like that on the MIAA fb board!

[Goknights2017]

According to Twitter, Luke Scheffers will attend Calvin.

[HOPEful]

According to Twitter, Luke Scheffers will attend Calvin.

On the long list of MIAA incoming freshmen, this one stands out the most. Great get for Coach Sall.

[ziggy]

[ziggy]

Luke Scheffers (6-1 PG, St. Charles, IL) will attend Calvin.

A four-year starter at the point for Calvin I believe. Bill Sall's inaugural class has several keepers.

I'm sure part of the recruiting pitch from Sall involved his history to heavily lean on his best players. What we saw in terms of player usage last year was a big departure from what we saw under KVS but it wasn't unusual for Sall's other teams. If Scheffers is as good as billed, which I have no reason to doubt, there is a real possibility of him getting a lot of early minutes that he may not have been able to get elsewhere.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Yet, 17 recruited players

I guess that's my point, they aren't necessarily all recruited - they have all simply indicated they are going to Hope and intend to play basketball.

[ziggy]

Like IMG Academy where Danny Beckman played, Oak Hill has multiple teams.   Oak Hill doesn't have all its rosters online but Raheem was not on the highest level Oak Hill team full of future NBA prospects.

Best I can tell Oak Hill has three teams. The Gold team is their main/high profile team that competes nationally. They also have Red, which Anees Abdul-Raheem was a member of, and White teams. I'm not sure if the White team is a JV or club team but their team photo looks young/less physically advanced.

[sac]

I'd honestly just like to see a basketball season next year. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'd honestly just like to see a basketball season next year. 

Amen - even if we have to watch it all online

[AndOne]

Like IMG Academy where Danny Beckman played, Oak Hill has multiple teams.   Oak Hill doesn't have all its rosters online but Raheem was not on the highest level Oak Hill team full of future NBA prospects.

Best I can tell Oak Hill has three teams. The Gold team is their main/high profile team that competes nationally. They also have Red, which Anees Abdul-Raheem was a member of, and White teams. I'm not sure if the White team is a JV or club team but their team photo looks young/less physically advanced.

You always want confident kids, but realistically so. Anees Abdul-Raheem is likely a good basketball player, maybe even a very good one. However, despite the fact, as Sac and Ziggy point out above, that he wasn't even on his prep school's top team, there appears every possibility that Mr. Abdul-Raheem thinks his abilities are out of this world good. Take a look at his Twitter account on which he refers to himself not as a point guard, but as a PointGOD. Hopefully he means his athletic abilities are God given. Otherwise it seems he may have gotten lost on the road to Ann Arbor and wound up in Holland!   

[AndOne]

I'd honestly just like to see a basketball season next year. 

Amen - even if we have to watch it all online

I'll add my Amen too FDF. Unfortunately, with the current predicted recovery scenario, it appears that the best that might be possible will be for competition to take place within empty arenas.