FERRIS MEN’S BASKETBALL LANDS TWO MORE MUSKEGON HEIGHTS PRODUCTS

Edward Sanders & Lou Williams To Join Bulldogs Beginning In 2006-07

Fourth-year Ferris head coach Bill Sall has announced the additon of current Muskegon Heights High School frontcourt players Edward Sanders and Lou Williams, who both plan to attend and compete in men's basketball at FSU beginning with the 2006-07 academic year. They inked national letters-of-intent with the Bulldogs during the fall signing period.

Both prep seniors in the 2005-06 campaign, Sanders and Williams will be the latest in a list of former Muskegon Heights players who’ve moved on to FSU. The Bulldogs’ current 2005-06 roster includes junior guard Julius Vines along with freshmen guards Jessie York and Anthony Sydnor from the Muskegon Heights program. York redshirted last season for Ferris while Vines is currently midst his initial Bulldog season after previously playing two years of junior college basketball at Muskegon Community College following his Tiger career. Former Muskegon Heights and Muskegon CC player Willie Burrel played his final season of collegiate basketball with the Bulldogs as a senior in 2004-05.

“Both Ed and Lou are winners who come from an extremely successful high school program,” said Sall. “They’ve displayed the overall skills we’re looking for in terms of their ability to run the floor, rebound and score in the post. We’re expecting big things from them in our program.”

The 6-7 Williams and the 6-8 Sanders both teamed with Sydnor to guide Muskegon Heights High School to a 26-2 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class B State Tournament during the 2004-05 campaign. Sanders was among the squad’s leaders as he scored nine points, had six blocked shots and grabbed five reobunds in Muskegon Heights’ 67-60 loss to Grand Rapids South Christian in the MHSAA Class B State Championship Game (March 19) held at Michigan State’s Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.

In 2003-04, the duo paired with both Sydnor and York to guide the Tigers to the MHSAA Class B State Semifinals.

“Muskegon Heights has had some incredible teams over the years and have advanced to the state finals three of the last four years,” Sall said. “Ed and Lou both have the size and athleticism to play for us in the near future. They’ll be tremendous additions to our program.”

Sanders earned 2004-05 Associated Press Class B All-State Honorable Mention accolades. Williams and Sanders are presently listed among the state’s top 40 prep recruits by several recruting publications. They helped lead Muskegon Heights to both its fourth consecutive district and regional titles under second-year head coach and former Ferris State men’s basketball player Keith Guy (1995-97) last season.

The Ferris State men’s basketball team, which is currently 2-2 overall this campaign, will host Northwood in its 2005-06 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener Thursday, Dec. 1, at FSU’s Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (EST). The Bulldogs were ranked 18th in the 2005-06 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Ferris State capped off a banner 2004-05 season with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament (March 12-15) held in Findlay, Ohio. FSU reached the regional championship game for only the third time in school history last season.

The Bulldogs, who won their second-straight GLIAC North Division Championship with a 13-5 league mark last campaign, concluded the year with a 24-7 overall record and fell one game shy of advancing to the NCAA-II Elite Eight for the second time ever. FSU's 24 victories represented the third-most wins in school history.