Rockford freshmen get basketball offers from Ferris State

Rockford freshmen Eli Wolfe, left, and Josh Bascom, got offers from Ferris State University after attending the school’s elite cam on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Eli Wolfe and Josh Bascom were still dripping sweat after a long day at the Ferris State University elite basketball camp on Sunday, Aug. 4.

They walked over to Ferris State head coach Andy Bronkema to thank him for inviting them.

“He said ‘do you have any offer yet?’ Wolfe recalled. “I said ‘no’. He said ‘well this one will be your first. How would you like an offer from Ferris State University?’ I was pretty excited.”

Bronkema has always put a focus on recruiting West Michigan talent.

But this is a little different. 

Wolfe and Bascom haven’t even taken a class at Rockford High School yet. They’ll be freshman when school starts in a few weeks.

“It’s really cool,” Bascom said. “Not a lot of people get offers as incoming freshmen. So it’s really cool.”

Rockford’s Eli Wolfe, center, listens to coaches at the Ferris State University elite basketball camp on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Wolfe, a skinny 5-foot-11, 130-pound guard, is quick, sees the court well and has really good 3-point shot. And for his size, he has no fear driving to the basket. He is one of the top players in his class in Michigan.

But did he anticipate an offer this early, especially from a Division II program?

“No, to be honest,” Wolfe said. “I thought it would eventually come. I was very shocked and excited that I got an offer this early.”

Wolfe’s sister, Sienna, also got an offer from Ferris State a year ago as in incoming freshman.

Wolfe and Bascom have been best buddies since they were in elementary school.

“We’ve been friends since like third or fourth grade,” Bascom said. “We bonded over basketball. It’s fun playing with him.”

Rockford’s Josh Bascom competes at the Ferris State University elite basketball camp on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Bascom, the son of Justin and Jennifer Bascom is a 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard/forward. But he won’t stay that small for long. Doctors said he’ll be huge before he graduates.

“My dad is about 6-foot-8,” Bascom said. “I hopefully I’m a little taller than that. They said I could get as tall as 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7.”  

His older brother, Jake Bascom, who is going to be a junior for Rockford, also got an offer from Ferris State earlier this summer. 

Wolfe, the son of Nick and Krista Wolfe, is happy this happened with Bascom.

“I was just really surprised and excited that me and Josh, my best friend, each got an offer,” he said. “I’m just super blessed that its’s from Ferris State.”

The Rockford duo has a lot in common. The will both play on the Rams varsity team this fall, are both left-handed shooters, have older siblings with offers from Ferris and play for the same Grand Rapids Storm travel team.

So their future is bright. 

Ferris also made offers to Josh Gibson, a senior at Birmingham, Elija Langston, a senior from Muskegon and Charles Kage, a senior from Riverview Gabriel Richard. 

Hudsonville’s Alex Armstrong, left, and Rockford’s Eli Wolfe wait to get on the court at the Ferris State University elite basketball camp on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).