Notebook: Return of Eli VanderVeen sparks Hudsonville hot streak
Hudsonville’s Eli VanderVeen during a timeout during a tournament at East Kentwood on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
Notes for the week of Jan. 23, 2023. Check back daily as this will be updated as news occurs.
KENTWOOD, Mich - Eli VanderVeen plays basketball like a football player. And that is a compliment.
The high-flying Hudsonville senior played a big role for the Eagles in a win over Flint Carman-Ainsworth on Saturday at the Gotta Get It Classic held at East Kentwood High School.
“His defense is pretty good,” Hudsonville coach Eric Elliott said. “He got out on the break. His energy and physicality add an element to our game.”
It’s an element the Eagles were missing when VanderVeen missed the first part of the season with an injury. Since he returned on Jan. 6, Hudsonville is 5-2.
“This is my sixth game back,” he said on Saturday. “I rolled my ankle. I was out eight weeks. I was literally the first night after football got over. I was at an open gym for basketball.”
The 6-foot-5, 195-pounder plays wide receiver in football and has committed to play at Hope College in the fall.
“I don’t have a different mentality,” VanderVeen said of the two sports. “I’m just better at one more than the other. I come at both with the same kind of intensity.”
His teammates love him, too.
“Eli really gets us going,” sophomore Griffin Baker said. “He brings a lot of energy for our team on defense and offense. He’s one of the best leaders I know.”
In Hudsonville’s 56-49 win on Saturday, VanderVeen had 8 points, 5 blocks and 5 rebounds.
Hudsonville is 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the O-K Red Conference.
CATHOLIC CENTRAL: Kaden Brown drained seven 3-pointers and finished with 32 points as Catholic Central beat South Christian 71-67 on Tuesday night in a big O-K Gold matchup. Brown, who has committed to Wright State, is averaging 25 points per game.
BYRON CENTER: Sophomore Camden Karel had an unofficial visit to Eastern Michigan University on Saturday. The 6-foot-9 forward has also had unofficial trips to a few other Division I schools, including Michigan State.
GRAND HAVEN: Senior Harrison Sorrelle was added to Mlive’s Mr. Basketball watch list. He and Catholic Central’s Kaden Brown are the only area seniors on the list. Sorrelle is averaging about 22 points per game.
GRANDVILLE: The Bulldogs are the hottest team in the O-K Red Conference. They have won four games in a row after beating Jenison on Tuesday. Grandville is tied with East Kentwood with a 5-1 record in the conference and 8-3 overall.
KENOWA HILLS: Senior Javion Otten reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career on Tuesday in a win over Cedar Springs. Otten has committed to play basketball at Grand Valley.
NORTHVIEW: Senior Terrell Jefferson has been in a cast and walking boot for most of the season after breaking his ankle against Cass Tech on Dec. 30. The Middleville transfer only got to play in Northview’s first five games. He is out for the season. He has committed to play at Aquinas College next fall.
OTTAWA HILLS: Junior Craig Hureskin set the school record with 10 3-pointers on Tuesday in a win over Wayland. He finished with a career-high 33 points.
OTTAWA HILLS: Senior guard Quadir Hatchett was named Mlive’s Player of the Week after he had a 30-point game.
SPARTA: Jax Wilson’s big season continues. The un-signed senior scored 37 points as Sparta beat Godwin Heights 104-98 in triple overtime. Jakhary Towns led Godwin with 36 points.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN: Jake Vermaas, a junior guard on the basketball team, is drawing high praise for his play on the football field. Vermaas, who is a wide receiver and defensive back on the South Christian team that went 14-0 and won the state title, was at a football camp on Saturday. PrepRedZone posted “Vermaas had the most impressive day out of any athlete in the building. … As the camp went on, I could see QBs looking his way through his entire route.”
SOUTH CHRISTIAN: South Christian's Cam Post has committed to play football at Ferris State University. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior was an offensive lineman and linebacker for the Division 4 state champions. Post also plays on the Sailors basketball team.
WELLSPRING PREP: Junior Zeek Jackson is putting up some big numbers this season. He has at least five 30-point games, including 40 on Dec. 7 against Grand Rapids Adventist. On Monday, he had 38 points against Sacred Heart, including four 3-pointers and was just 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
WEST CATHOLIC: Bernie Varnesdeel, a guard on the basketball team, is getting offers for being a great football player. The senior was the quarterback on the West Catholic football team, which won the state title in the fall. He got offers from Davenport University and Calvin University last week.
WYOMNG: Senior Alyjah Chandler was named Mlive’s Player of the Week last week. The guard had 30 points against Mona Shores and 28 against Reeths-Puffer. He is averaging 17.1 points per game.
ZEELAND WEST: Merritt Alderink had the best game of his young career on Tuesday. He scored 42 points to set the school’s single-game record. He surpassed the 40 that Eli Steffen set three years ago. The 6-foot-7 junior has offers from five colleges.
ZEELAND WEST: Junior Luke Bakker is out for the season with an ankle injury. The 6-foot-5 forward has been a starter for the past two years. “Luke Bakker is our energy guy,” Dux coach David Klyn said. “He’s the heartbeat of our team. Not having a guy like that sets you back a little bit.”
