Ferris State Basketball Reloads With Seven Additions Following Elite Eight Season!

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball program, which reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last season, has reloaded yet again for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign as head coach Andy Bronkema announced seven new squad members.

The Bulldogs added four talented incoming freshmen student-athletes along with three key impact transfers to a roster that returns all eligible squad members from a year ago.

FSU's four incoming freshmen include Quron Williams (Detroit/Edison) along with Jaxson Whitaker (Muskegon/Reeths-Puffer), Carter Meerman (Grand Rapids/Catholic Central) and Wasir James (Flint/Beecher).

Additionally, the transfer class features St. Clair Community College standout Tyler Hamilton (Detroit/River Rouge), talented wing Donovan Brown-Boyd (Grand Rapids/Christian) from Aquinas along with King University (Tenn.) transfer forward Kenny Turner (Coral Springs, Fla./Saint Andrews School).

The group of seven will help offset the loss of an outstanding six-member senior class that sparked FSU's memorable postseason run that included winning both the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament and Midwest Region championships.

"We're thrilled to add this talented incoming class and look forward to building a new legacy with this year's squad," said Bronkema. "Last year was special, but we believe we've added another strong recruiting class that will help us continue to compete for championships."

The seven additions include three state champions along with four players who have made six or more three's in a single-contest. All three incoming transfers were also all double-digit scorers at their last respective school.

"I'm excited about the roster," Bronkema said. "We returned 12 and graduated six accomplished players. The goal was to bring in a class to compliment the returners and help replace the productivity and skill sets of those that graduated. On paper we have done that and the rest is about the work."

Ferris State won both the GLIAC Tournament Championship and the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional title this past season, closing the year with a 28-8 overall record while notching a share of the second-most wins in program history. The Bulldogs made their first trip to the D2 Elite Eight in six years with the last coming in 2018 when FSU captured its first NCAA D2 National Championship. Last year's appearance in the Elite Eight was the Bulldogs' third overall in program history.

Below are biographical sketches on all seven additions:

Quron Williams - (Highlights) 
The 6-5 wing from Detroit Edison was a first-team all-conference choice in the Detroit Charter School Conference under head coach Brandon Neely. He was ranked as the state's #17 overall forward by Prep Hoops along with being one of the top 115 players overall. Additionally, he was tabbed as Michigan's sixth-best forward by Inside Prep Sports, which labeled him #22 overall on the state player rankings. Williams guided his squad to a 14-8 mark a year ago and also played on the AAU level for DTO under coaches Greg Boler and DeJon Curd. He notched 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals a contest.

"Quron is a proto-type for the top of our press," said Bronkema. "He continues the successful pipeline we've had from Detroit to Ferris State. He was coached well in high school and is a true competitor."

Jaxson Whitaker - (Highlights) 
A Muskegon Reeths-Puffer product, the 6-3 wing finished a standout prep career as his school's all-time leader scorer and top three-point shooter in school history. He guided his team to a conference title, earning first-team all-state accolades for head coach Nate Aardema along with academic all-state, all-conference and MLive Muskegon Dream Team honors. Whitaker tallied 20 points along with six rebounds and nearly six assists per game while being chosen as the conference player of the year in addition to winning the WMOA Player of the Year distinction. He once notched 37 points in a game and was listed as the state's #4 wing and #21 overall prospect by Inside Prep Sports along with the #7 wing and #42 talent by Prep Hoops. Whitaker's squad finished 19-4 last year and he also played AAU basketball for the Grand Rapids Storm under coach Jason Martin.

"Jaxson is one of the best shooters in the state and comes in with a college ready frame," Bronkema said. "He was a three-sport star in high school and continues the Muskegon pipeline to FSU."

Carter Meerman - (Highlights) 
The Grand Rapids Catholic Central standout is a 6-1 combo guard who averaged 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and nearly two steals a game for head coach TJ Meerman. Meerman helped GRCC to the 2021 state championship and made eight three's in a single prep game along with once scoring 33 points as a career-high. Tabbed as the state's #5 shooting guard and #25 prospect by Inside Prep Sports, he was also labeled 15th overall at his position and #63 in the state by Prep Hoops. Meerman led Grand Rapids Catholic Central to a 26-6 record and garnered both all-conference and all-area recognition. He also played on the AAU circuit for the Grand Rapids Storm and coach Jason Martin.

"Carter was under-valued playing in a loaded high school program, but from day one was our guy," said Bronkema. "He can shoot it and along with that is an above the rim athlete. He comes from a family of coaches and competition is in his blood." 

Wasir James - (Highlights) 
A product of Flint Beecher, James is a 6-8 forward. He led his squad to a state championship in 2022-23 and a 24-4 mark this past year while averaging 11.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals a game for coach Marquise Gray. James tallied 28 points as a career-high and led his team in double-doubles and triple-doubles. He was listed as Michigan's #7 center and #32 overall prospect by Inside Prep Sports. On the AAU level, he competed for the Michigan Playmakers and coach Wendell Green.

"Wasir played for one of the most storied programs in the state where winning is all that is accepted," Bronkema said. "He has the ability to play inside out and his potential is through the roof."

Tyler Hamilton - (Highlights) 
The 5-11 combo guard averaged 17.7 points along with 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game last year for St. Clair County Community College, which finished eighth in the nation and won the district championship under coach Richard Field. Hamilton hit six three's in a game and scored a career-high 38 points in a game at SCCC for a squad that netted a 27-8 record. He was also a 1,000-point scorer at River Rouge High School for coach Josh Baker and last year was named to both the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) all-conference and all-defensive squads in addition to the NJCAA All-Region 12 team. He played on the AAU level for the Motor City Thunder and head coach Jasmine Drake.

"Tyler was one of the most dynamic point guards on the Michigan Junior College level and in all of NJCAA," said Bronkema. "He has the ability to score the ball while still running the show. His dynamic personality will fit in well with the returning group."

Donovan Brown-Boyd - (Highlights) 
A transfer from Aquinas, Brown-Boyd notched 17.3 points in addition to 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists a contest last year. The first-team All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference pick was a first-team all-freshman squad member in the league and ranked third overall in the WHAC in three-pointers made along with fifth in three-point percentage and top 10 in points scored. He hit six three's in a game and totaled a career-best 30-point effort. On the prep level, he played for coach Eric Taylor at Grand Rapids Christian High School and competed on the AAU circuit for MBA under coach Milo Stilvo.

"Donnie is a big guard who can really stretch the floor," Bronkema said. "He grew up with many of our players and will fit in well with the culture immediately. I believe his success at the NAIA level will transfer well to our system and league."

Kenny Turner - (Highlights) 
A 6-6 forward, Turner competed on the NCAA Division II level last year for King University (Tenn.), totaling 12 points and 7.2 rebounds a game along with 1.6 assists. He was a second-team All-Peach Belt Conference choice and notched 24 points in a single-game. He was a 2020 3A State Champion on the high school level where he played for coach Johnny O'Connell at Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Fla. Additionally, he competed for the CP25 South squad in AAU basketball that was led by coach Roosevelt Gray, Jr.

"Kenny's physicality and play making ability for others makes him the perfect fit for our roster," said Bronkema. "Kenny was on a long list of transfer portal recruits that fit basketball wise but was THE one that fit our culture. He will have an immediate impact on our winning from day one."