Upper Peninsula Best In Class: Prep Hoops Alumni (Collegiate)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few months, I've been up to my elbows in Upper Peninsula high school and collegiate basketball. After my first year at Prep Hoops, I thought I would take this time to reflect on how well the Upper Peninsula was represented on the collegiate side of things for the 2024-2025 season. These athletes led the way in making sure UP colleges were well represented in the postseason. The following list is those athletes that were the best of the best in the UP for their respective collegiate teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611480"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e36b1943a44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tyson Edmonson comes on the list as a long-time standout for the LSSU Lakers. This young man has been an absolute sniper beyond the arc—one of the quickest, most accurate releases of anyone I have seen. Throughout his 4-year collegiate career, he shot 45.5% from the floor and 40.5% from 3. He also held a 76% mark from the free-throw line throughout his career. These stats are completely foreshadowed by Ty's most notable attributes: his winning attitude and mental toughness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["865854"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ee9be2e62ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'6" junior shooting guard for the Michigan Tech Huskies who was one of the leaders that helped the Huskies to a regular-season GLIAC conference championship. He averaged an impressive 23.6 PPG during his junior year and also shot 42.5% from the floor. He dumped in 30+ points 9 times throughout the 2024-2025 season, including 37 against Davenport, 40 against MSU Moorhead, and a whopping 45 against tough GLIAC rival Ferris State. The GLIAC can easily be listed as one of the toughest Division 2 conferences in the country, and the common denominator of these athletes is there gritty and team-oriented style of play. Marcus highlights those qualities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["764119"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ee9be2e6358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When I think of pure shooters in the GLIAC, two names pop out instantly: Ethan Erickson and NMU redshirt junior Dylan Kuehl. Dylan has a career shooting percentage of 51.3% from the floor. His stats also show he is a very complete player, averaging 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game. He was a pivotal piece of the Wilcats' amazing run through the GLIAC tournament. For those high schoolers out there who have any doubt about how successful a collegiate red-shirt season can be, follow this young man's career. The mental toughness he showed in the GLIAC tournament championship game was second to none. He has amassed 1,450 points through three years, so he should have no problem surpassing the 2K mark, which should see him in the top 3 all-time in NMU scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611465"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67eea29d1a6ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kingley Perkins is one of my only bigs on this list, even though he enters this list at 6'8". Lake Superior State's program has him listed as a forward, but he was the absolute block grinder on a Laker team that plowed through the postseason to the elite 8 of the Division 2 tournament. He often found himself defending the block against guys taller than him, and although sometimes he got him into foul trouble, he maintained himself as one of the best defenders in the GLIAC. Kinglsey also had himself a dominant post move and baby hook, with either his right or his left hand. He shot exceptionally well throughout his Laker career, hitting 56.9% of his shots throughout his tenure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1028771"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67ee9be2e639d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ryan Sweeney had a remarkable year and career for the Bay College Norse on the NJCAA side of things in the UP. A 6'3" extremely athletic shooting guard, he helped lead the Norse to a 24-6 overall record and a 12-2 record in conference play, helping the Norse finish 2nd in the MCCAA Northern Division. Another shooting ace on this list, he finished this season shooting 56.4% from the floor, 43.2% from 3, and an impressive 85.7% from the stripe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was one of the best years in recent history in regards to collegiate basketball in the Upper Penisula. The three GLIAC teams consistently found themselves nationally ranked throughout the year, and all three teams made the postseason tournament, Northern Michigan by winning the GLIAC Tournament, and LSSU and MTU earned at-large bids. Bay College on the NJCAA side of things was also ranked all year and competed at a high level all season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->