Notebook: Three area basketball players sign to play football at Ferris State
South Christian’s Cam Post, left, and Hudsonville’s Mason Dykstra both signed to play football at Ferris State University on Wednesday. Both athletes also play basketball. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It was signing day for high school athletes around the country.
In West Michigan, we had a lot of football players making it official and several of those players also currently play basketball, too.
Ferris State University got commitments from Hudsonville’s Mason Dykstra, South Christian’s Cam Post and Ottawa Hills’ Keymarion Gibson.
“He’s actually the running back for the Ottawa Hills football team,” Ottawa Hills basketball coach Derrick King said earlier this season. “He wanted to shed some pounds. He’s got some offers for football. We figured we could use his size. He’s big and physical and takes up space in the paint. And he’s just athletic.”
Gibson is 6-foot–2, 257-pound running back who was all-conference each of the past two seasons.
Dykstra is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior tight end, linebacker and center. His mother, Anne (Bentley) Bragington was an All-American softball and tennis player at Ferris State. She is in the Ferris Athletic Hall of Fame. Post is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior who was an offensive lineman and linebacker for the Division 4 state champions, who finished the season 14-0.
Tyler Porte, who is a center on the Grand Rapids Christian basketball team, has committed to play football at Central Michigan University. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end will be a preferred walk-on.
Bernie Varnesdeel signed to play football at Davenport University. The quarterback led West Catholic to a state championship in the fall. The point guard on the Falcons’ basketball team transferred from Wyoming High.
Rockford’s Joey Pitsch signed with Lawrence Tech. He is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver.
CATHOLIC CENTRAL: Senior Michael App has committed to play basketball at Hillsdale College. App is a starter for the Cougars.
HOLLAND: Junior Jacob VanHekken had a career-high 30 points as the Dutch lost to Wayland on Tuesday.
FOREST HILLS CENTRAL: Senior guard Levi McKenzie broke his wrist during a game on Friday, Jan. 27 against East Grand Rapids. He likely will miss the rest of the season.
GODWIN HEIGHTS: Jakhary Towns, a senior shooting guard, was added to Mlive’s Mr. Basketball watch list after back-to-back 30 point games. He’s averaging 25 points per game.
NORTHPOINTE CHRISTIAN: Senior guard Mitchell White got an offer from Patrick Henry College, a Division III school in Purcellville, Virginia.
OTTAWA HILLS: Isaiah Bradford became the second Ottawa Hills player to score 30 in a game in the past week. Bradford had 30 points and seven rebounds as the Bengals beat Plainwell 85-58 on Tuesday. His teammate Craig Hureskin scored 33 against Wayland on Jan. 24.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN: Senior Nate Brinks was offered by Calvin College. Brinks was a kicker and running back/receiver for the Sailors team that won the Division 4 state championship. Brinks is a guard on the basketball team.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN: The Sailors will honor the 2003 team that won the Class B boys basketball state championship before South’s game on Friday, Feb. 3. South Christian’s athletic director David Kool and the school’s football coach, Danny Brown, both played on that 2003 team.
