The college basketball season is about to shift into full gear for 2021 and Bay City-area fans have plenty of reason to take note.
At least 12 players from area high schools are competing at the collegiate level in men’s basketball this year. Here is a look at the players who are officially listed on collegiate rosters.
DIVISION II
Michigan Tech University’s Carter Johnston drives to the basket during a game in the 2019-20 season. (Courtesy MTU)
CARTER JOHNSTON, MICHIGAN TECH
The 6-foot-3 junior guard has started all four games for Michigan Tech this season. He has scored 62 points in 48 career games at the GLIAC school. Johnston poured in 1,193 career points during his prep career at Beaverton, leading his team to the state quarterfinals as a senior.
Central’s Elias Ramirez surveys the court during his senior season. Ramirez is now playing at Northwood University.Kaytie Boomer | MLive
ELIAS RAMIREZ, NORTHWOOD
The second-leading scorer in Bay City Central history, he made his collegiate debut this season after red-shirting a year ago at Northwood. The 6-foot shooting guard tallied 1,152 career points as a four-year starter for Central, earning MLive Bay City Player of the Year in 2019.
DIVISION III
– Camden Groff of the Tawas boys basketball team for 2019-20.(With permission Photography by
CAM GROFF, ALMA
The 6-foot-2 freshman takes his skills to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association this season after a stellar prep career at Tawas. Groff packed the stat sheet a year ago, averaging 18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Braves.
Isaiah Williamson of the Alma College men’s basketball team. (Courtesy)
ISAIAH WILLIAMSON, ALMA
The centerpiece of Unionville-Sebewaing’s run to the state quarterfinals, he was named MLive Bay City Player of the Year in 2018. He’s now starting his junior season at Alma College, where he has scored 147 points in 35 career games. The 6-5 forward started 14 games for the Scots a year ago.
AARON ZETTEL, ALMA
The 6-foot-3 sophomore makes the move to varsity after competing for the Alma JV a year ago. He was a four-year varsity fixture for Standish-Sterling, helping the Panthers to back-to-back district championships.
NAIA
Graceland guard Trey Newsham launches a 3-pointer during a game last season. (Courtesy Graceland University)
TREY NEWSHAM, GRACELAND
The 6-3 senior guard is wrapping up a solid collegiate career at Graceland University in Iowa, where he is averaging 9.6 points per contest 12 games into the 2020-21 campaign. He has scored 253 career points for the NAIA school, since transferring there after two years with the Delta Pioneers. Newsham poured in 1,139 points during his varsity career at Bay City All Saints and Essexville Garber.
Reese’s Gabe Robinson (2) races down the court as Reese hosts Unionville-Sebewaing for boys basketball, Friday, Jan. 23, 2019.Kaytie Boomer | MLive
GABE ROBINSON, UM-DEARBORN
The former Reese standout has the season off after UM-Dearborn canceled its basketball season. He is scheduled to play as a red-shirt freshman upon return. Robinson poured in 983 points during his varsity career for the Rockets.
– Keagan Wendel of the Standish-Sterling boys basketball team for 2019-20.(Lee Thompson | MLive.com)
KEAGAN WENDEL, LAWRENCE TECH
The 5-foot-10 playmaking guard launched his collegiate career at Lawrence Tech of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. The two-time MLive Bay City Dream Teamer averaged 18.1 points per game as a senior at Standish-Sterling, scoring more than 900 points in his varsity career.
NCCAA
Essexville Garber product Evan Anderson is a senior at Great Lakes Christian. (Courtesy)
EVAN ANDERSON, GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN
The 6-foot-8 forward offers a large presence for Great Lakes Christian, the Lansing-based school that competes in NCCAA action. After two seasons with the Delta College men’s basketball program, he started 23 games with Great Lakes a year ago, averaging 6.7 points and 5.2 rebounds. He led Bay County in rebounding as a senior at Essexville Garber in 2017.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
Micah Cramer of the Mid Michigan men’s basketball team. (Courtesy)
MICAH CRAMER, MID-MICHIGAN
The scrappy point guard returns for his sophomore season at Mid-Michigan of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. He shot 8 of 19 a year ago to score 16 points in part-time duty. Cramer was an MLive Bay City Dream Teamer in 2019 for Unionville-Sebewaing.
Clare’s Shane Jenkins takes the ball to the basket during a game with Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart last season. (With permission Photographs by Shannon Zinser)
SHANE JENKINS, MID-MICHIGAN
Jenkins joins the collegiate ranks at Mid-Michigan, ready to compete in the MCCAA. He was a key figure for the Clare Pioneers a year ago, scoring 12.8 points per game.
Oscoda’s senior Brayden Mallak (11) races down the court in a game against Whittemore-Prescott at Whittemore-Prescott High School on Friday, Feb.14, 2020.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
BRAYDEN MALLAK, ALPENA
The leading assist man in Oscoda history with 388 dimes, he takes his skills to the collegiate level at Alpena of the MCCAA. The dynamic point guard scored 1,180 points in his varsity career, leading the Owls to a 45-2 record over the past two seasons.
Please send any updates or omissions to lthomps2@mlive.com
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