MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

Owen Varnado from Western Michigan Christian has committed to Calvin per his Twitter account.

A really good get for the Knights. A highly skilled 6'6" scoring machine, whose cousin is Jaylen Brown, of the Celtics. Brown is a starter and double-digit scorer for Boston (22 ppg). Owen's online comment about his cousin states:

"I have a legacy of basketball in my family, my first cousin is Jaylen Brown of the Celtics. I have worked with him and learned a lot from him and I know what it looks like to work hard. We keep in touch with him and I see a lot of similarities between our games."

May Owen's basketball legacy and similarity in games with Jaylen prosper on the Knollcrest campus.

[goodknight]

Owen Varnado from Western Michigan Christian has committed to Calvin per his Twitter account.

A really good get for the Knights. A highly skilled 6'6" scoring machine, whose cousin is Jaylen Brown, of the Celtics. Brown is a starter and double-digit scorer for Boston (22 ppg). Owen's online comment about his cousin states:

"I have a legacy of basketball in my family, my first cousin is Jaylen Brown of the Celtics. I have worked with him and learned a lot from him and I know what it looks like to work hard. We keep in touch with him and I see a lot of similarities between our games."

May Owen's basketball legacy and similarity in games with Jaylen prosper on the Knollcrest campus.

Kudos to Coach Sall for successfully recruiting Varnado, a student-athlete with a very high ceiling and considerable academic prowess. In the end, it came down to Washington University in St. Louis or Calvin. I'm pleased Owen chose to commit to the Knights and to the renaissance of Calvin's basketball program.

[calvin_grad]

That's a good get for Calvin. They will need some underclassmen to step up with all the seniors they lose next year.

[maroonandgold]

Owen Varnado from Western Michigan Christian has committed to Calvin per his Twitter account.

A really good get for the Knights. A highly skilled 6'6" scoring machine, whose cousin is Jaylen Brown, of the Celtics. Brown is a starter and double-digit scorer for Boston (22 ppg). Owen's online comment about his cousin states:

"I have a legacy of basketball in my family, my first cousin is Jaylen Brown of the Celtics. I have worked with him and learned a lot from him and I know what it looks like to work hard. We keep in touch with him and I see a lot of similarities between our games."

May Owen's basketball legacy and similarity in games with Jaylen prosper on the Knollcrest campus.

Kudos to Coach Sall for successfully recruiting Varnado, a student-athlete with a very high ceiling and considerable academic prowess. In the end, it came down to Washington University in St. Louis or Calvin. I'm pleased Owen chose to commit to the Knights and to the renaissance of Calvin's basketball program.

I am amazed at the number of commitments so early this year.  Trine, Hope, and Calvin all seem to have done extremely well already.

[KnightSlappy]

I am amazed at the number of commitments so early this year.  Trine, Hope, and Calvin all seem to have done extremely well already.

Here's the compiled list I have for Calvin. I'm pretty sure it's all been posted here before.

Sam Leppien, 6-10, Alma
Brady Ewing, 6-7, Petoskey
Owen Varnado, 6-6, Western MI Christian
Tevin Winkle, 6-4, Northern MI Christian
DJ Potts-Heard, 6-3, Cookeville (TN)
Luka Ressler, 6-3, GR Catholic Central
Brock Broderick, 6-3, Traverse City Christian

[HupHolland]

I'm 75% confident that Calvin will be adding a BIG addition to their recruiting class fairly soon

[KnightSlappy]

I don't pretend to follow the HS basketball very closely, so I don't know the relative quality of many of these guys, but Calvin will have plenty of playing time available if any of them have the chops to step in right away. I'm sure that has been part of Bill Sall's recruiting pitch this year.

[ziggy]

Probably the last thing left to put a final wrap on this season is the last D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. I'm fairly confident based on the individual rankings publicly released by a handful of voters that Calvin will land somewhere inside that final Top 25. They have been named on every ballot I have seen so far and high enough in a couple that they should still have enough points to get in even if they are left out from others.

[sac]

Here's a few commitments I don't think have made the board yet.


Adrian
Andrew Tiemeyer  6-3   G  Allendale
Jake Slezinger   6-3 G   Gibralter Carlson


Albion
Nathan Steinman 6-2  G  Clarkston
Nate Childers  6-2 PG  Benzie Central
Cooper Bright   6-3 G  Alpena
Michael Calhoun  6-6 F   Riverview Gabriel Richard


Alma
Dray Chase  6-0  PG  Okemos
Dylan Cragg  6-4  G  Grayling   -football/basketball


Olivet
Hayden Garrison  6-8  C  Gull Lake


Trine
Logan McKenzie 6-7  F   Byron Center

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So here is what I have based on various sources and posts (thanks sac & KS).  Corrections & additions always welcome:

Player	Height	Position	High School	College
Jake Slezinger	6-3	SG	Gibraltar Carlson (MI)	Adrian
Andrew Tiemeyer	6-3	G	Allendale (MI)	Adrian
Nate Childers	6-2	PG	Benzie Central (MI)	Albion
Nathan Steinman	6-2	G	Clarkston (MI)	Albion
Cooper Bright	6-3	G	Alpena (MI)	Albion
Michael Calhoun	6-6	F	Riverview Gabriel Tichard (MI)	Albion
Dray Chase	6-0	PG	Okemos (MI)	Alma
Dylan Cragg	6-4	G	Grayling (MI)	Alma
Brock Broderick	6-3	G	Traverse City Christian (MI)	Calvin
DeJuan Potts-Heard	6-3	G	Cookeville HS (Cookeville TN)	Calvin
Luke Ressler	6-3	G	GR Catholic Central (MI)	Calvin
Tevin Winkle	6-4	G	Northern MI Christian (MI)	Calvin
Owen Varnado	6-6	F	Western MI Christian (MI)	Calvin
Brady Ewing	6-7	PF	Petoskey (MI)	Calvin
Sam Leppien	6-10	C	Alma (MI)	Calvin
Justice Mims	6-2	PG/SG	Rochester Adams (MI)	Hope
Ethan Crabtree	6-5	PG/SG	Coldwater (MI)	Hope
Carson Sanders	6-5	SG	Hanover-Horton (MI)	Hope
Nic Stump	6-5	SF	Grand Haven (MI)	Hope
Andrew Leeper	6-6	PF	Homestead (Ft Wayne IN)	Hope
				Kalamazoo
Hayden Garrison	6-8	C	Gull Lake (MI)	Olivet
Mason Gladieux	6-2	G	Crossroads Christian (Henderson NC)	Trine
Ryan Schroeder	6-3	G	Central Noble  (Albion IN)	Trine
Logan Gard	6-7	PF	Central Noble  (Albion IN)	Trine
Logan McKenzie	6-7	F	Byron Center (MI)	Trine

[Flying Dutch Fan]

And we can consider the recruits in light of the data below.  This reflects what % of the teams stats from this year will be returning next year (I am assuming no one who was a 4th year senior this year is returning).  Makes that blank line for recruits for Kalamazoo a little more understandable at this point:

Team	Minutes	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
Adrian	0.517	0.539	0.490	0.285	0.479
Albion	0.462	0.407	0.497	0.511	0.456
Alma	0.440	0.335	0.420	0.518	0.513
Calvin	0.366	0.346	0.365	0.331	0.330
Hope	0.663	0.693	0.735	0.742	0.712
Kalamazoo	1.000	1.001	1.002	1.003	1.004
Olivet	0.427	0.356	0.399	0.514	0.483
Trine	0.433	0.336	0.471	0.384	0.384

[TUAngola]

None of Trine's MBB or WBB seniors are returning for a 5th year.  They are all moving on to start their professional careers or grad school.

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin finished #18 in the final d3hoops.com poll. They had received votes a few times this year, but this has been the only time they've made it in the T25.

https://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2021-22/final

[sac]

2022 Seniors

Adrian
Conner Pelham
P'Hariz Watkins
Ben Pacer
Jalen Paul
Delano Smith
Nolan Ansara
Gio Dibara
Darius Wooten
Kendall Bellamy

Pelham used his 5th year, everyone else can return.  Bellamy didn't play this year and Dibara and Wooten played in two games early.    Next years probability of cracking the top 4 hinges on the rumored return of All-conference guys Kendall Bellamy, Victor Sheffey and Robert Warrick to mix in with their very good group of Freshmen.  If that happens, Adrian will push for top 4 or better.


Albion
Devin Holmes
Justin McAbee
MJ Barnes
Cortez Garland


All 4 of these guys can return but all 4 participated in Albion's Sr day.   There will be a lot of open minutes available.


Alma
Alex King
Brandon Whiteside
Mason Gardner
Cole Kleiver
Jack Poling
Isiah Williamson
Brandon Rake

All 7 can return but all 7 participated in Sr. night.  The big loss here is Cole Kleiver, who finishes as Alma's 5th all-time scorer.  Overall that's a lot of minutes and points graduating


Calvin
Jack Cahalane
Thad Shymanski
Alec Fruin
Luke Morrison
Emmett Warners
Jordan Katje
Nate Minderhoud

Shymanski, Fruin, Morrison, Warners all used their 5th year.  I don't think the others are expected back.  Without a transfer Calvin will have 1 Sr on the roster next year and only 3 guys returning who were part of the regular rotation.  There are a lot of open minutes available


Hope
Tyler George
Josh Lilja
Jeff Bikus

All 3 can return, all 3 participated in Sr night and are not expected back.  The defending league champions are the easy odds on favorite going into next year.


Kalamazoo
Had no Seniors

There will likely be one or two that don't return from attrition but otherwise Kzoo returns everyone.    They'll have just one Sr. next year as well and will also get starter Bobby Samples back from injury who missed nearly all of last season. 


Olivet
Chris Martin
Derrick Johnson
Eddie Thigpen
Tevin Ali
Dan Vos
Ryan Robinette
Logan Guenther


Martin and Thigpen were the two recognized on Sr day, everyone else can return.  If all return who can a decent core to build around.


Trine
Nick Bowman
Bryce Williams
Aiden Warzecha
Mitchell Geller
Nate Carbaugh
Griffen Lorimer

All 6 can return but none are expected to return.  This makes up the bulk of Trine's starting 5 and playing time.  There will be many minutes available.



I think Hope's your easy favorite for next year followed by or even with Adrian if they get their all-conference guys to return.   Otherwise Trine, Calvin and Albion have a lot to replace but are to strong of programs to not be in the mix.  Olivet has a chance to move up.   Much will depend on transfers in as there will probably be a bunch them.   I don't think an accurate guess on the league standings can really be made until November.   

[Greek Tragedy]

Good work, sac.