Notebook: Two long-time friends will play at Davenport together

West Catholic’s Bernie Varnesdeel, left, and Godwin Heights’ Jakhary Towns compete in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game on June 6 & 7, 2023 at Davenport University. The duo will play for Davenport in the fall. (Photos | Lenny Padilla)

CALEDONIA, Mich. - Jakhary Towns and Bernie Varnesdeel have known each other for a long time. But the Wyoming natives never got a chance to play basketball together. 

Now they’ve got the next four years to be on the same court as both has committed to play basketball at Davenport University. 

“I have known Jakhary for a while now but really never got the chance to play together,” said Varnesdeel, who played at West Catholic last season. “I feel like me an Jakhary can make a really good backcourt because, obviously, he is an really good scorer and I feel like the game I play is more of a point-guard type style and I like to get my teammates involved. It will be very exciting to see what we can do.”

Towns, a high-volume scorer from Godwin Heights, is excited to play with Varnesdeel.

“He is one of my good friends,” Towns said. “I did know about him switching (sports until this week). It should be interesting.”

Varndesdeel, who spent the first three years at Wyoming High School, transferred to West Catholic for his senior year to play quarterback on the football team. It worked out well as he helped lead the Falcons to a state championship.

He initially committed to Davenport for football, but changed his mind this week.
“The reason I switched from football to basketball was just the love for the game,” Varnesdeel said. “I honestly didn’t want to give it up that easily and feel like I never hit my potential due to my ACL injury. It did not allow me to play my sophomore year on varsity. And my junior year I was not fully healthy for that season. I am excited to focus on developing fully as a basketball player at DU.”

Both players got the chance to wear their high school jersey again in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game at Davenport.

“It was amazing putting on my jersey one last time all the memories of high school were in the back of my mind,” said Towns, who scored 23 points won team MVP honors in the game. “It definitely was surreal because I was able to put on a good performance in front of my new coaches and some (Davenport) fans.”

ALLENDALE: The Falcons named David Brown as their new varsity basketball coach. He is a grad of Hope College and also works as a P.E. teacher at Allendale. 

BYRON CENTER: Senior Austin Buckley scored 17 points to lead his team in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game. He won his team’s MVP award, which meant he could play in the All-Star Game the following day. Buckley will play for the Calvin University JV team.

CALEDONIA: Junior power forward Jaiden Googins got an offer from Olivet College. 

CALVIN UNIVERSITY: Trip Riemersma has transferred to Calvin from Saginaw Valley State. The Zeeland East grad has three years of eligibility. He redshirted his first season at SVSU. Riemersma, the son of former NFL player Jay Riemersma, played in 17 games averaging 2.4 points.

CALVIN CHRISTIAN: Junior forward Matthew Elderkin got a football offer from Davenport University. He also has an offer from Cornell University. 

COVENANT CHRISTIAN: Jonny Kuiper will play basketball for the Calvin University JV team. 

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY: Myron Brewer has transferred to Davenport from Grand Rapids Community College. The shooting guard graduated from Grandville in 2021. 

FOREST HILLS CENTRAL: The Rangers named Jordan George as the new varsity basketball coach last week. George was an assistant coach at Hope College and a grad of FH Central. His father, Ken George, coached FH Central for 24 years. His brother, Tyler George, was a standout basketball player at FH Central and Hope College.

FOREST HILLS EASTERN: Senior Aiden Sullivan defended his track state title in the 800 meters at the Division 2 state meet on Saturday. Sullivan, who was a standout guard on the basketball team, won the 800 in 1:51.70 to set the school record. He will be running for the University of Michigan in the fall.

FRUITPORT CALVARY CHRISTIAN: Bradley Richards is the best high jumper in the entire state at all levels. The sophomore won the Division 4 state championship on Saturday, a first for any athlete at the school. He had an incredible leap of 6-foot-10, which is the best hight of any athlete in Michigan at all levels. He’s also a standout basketball player. He was first-team all-state averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds.

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN: Junior power forward Carter Goodyke got offers from Olivet College and Grove City College last week. 

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN: Senior Dono Thames scored 23 points to lead his team to victory in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game. He won his team’s MVP award. Thames will play basketball at Ferris State.

GRANDVILLE: Senior Tyson Mann was a busy guy on Wednesday. He played in a Division 1 baseball regional game at Grandville at 4:30 p.m. His team would lose to Caledonia 6-2. Then he raced over to Davenport, changed out of his baseball uniform and into his Grandville basketball uniform to play in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game. Mann will play basketball at Hope College.

GODWIN HEIGHTS: Tyler Whittemore was honored during the Ring of Fire All-Star Game for his outstanding tenure coaching the Wolverines. He stepped down after the season. Whittemore led Godwin to the state title in 2015. 

HUDSONVILLE: Junior guard Brayden Szamrej took a visit to Hillsdale College last week. He has offers from Hope College, Grove City College, Trine University and Olivet College.

SOUTH CHRISTIAN: Sam Medendorp is getting used to playing for state championships. The 6-foot-7 senior finished his high school career on Saturday when South Christian volleyball played for the state title. They lost to Lowell. Medendorp, who will play basketball at Aquinas College, also played for the Division 2 basketball state title in March. He won a state title in soccer in 2021.

SOUTH CHRISTIAN: Jake Vermaas picked up two football offers last week from Davenport University and DII National Champion Ferris State University. He now has five football offers. Vermaas, a point guard on the South basketball team, also has a basketball offer from Indiana Tech. 

SPARTA: Junior Jaiden Krynicki got an offer from Olivet College. 

UNION: Senior Brian Parks scored 18 points to lead his team to victory in the Ring of Fire All-Star Game. He won his team’s MVP award.  

Teammates from the 2022 MBA Lakeshore 17U team pose together at the Ring of Fire All-Star Game on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at Davenport. From left, Brett Bultsma (Wayland), Jake DeHaan (South Christian), Carson DeHaan (Calvin Christian), Parker Swartz (Northview), Mason Dykstra (Hudsonville) and Sam Medendorp (South Christian).