C.J. VAN WIEREN JOINS FSU MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
Two-Sport West Michigan Athlete Signs National Letter-Of-Intent
Prep two-sport standout C.J. Van Wieren (Holland/West Ottawa) has signed a national letter-of-intent to join the Ferris State University men’s basketball program in an announcement made by first-year FSU head coach Bill Sall. Van Wieren, who also was a member of the Bulldogs’ 2003 football recruiting class, will compete in both sports at Ferris State beginning with the 2003-04 academic year.
A 6-4 guard/forward, Van Wieren averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game during the 2002-03 campaign while leading West Ottawa High School to a school-record 15-7 overall record and a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class A district semifinal finish. The team captain garnered both 2002-03 Detroit Free Press Class A Sixth-Team All-State and Associated Press Class A Honorable Mention All-State basketball accolades.
“C.J. is one of the best competitors I’ve seen at the high school level,” Sall said. “He excelled as a multi-sport prep athlete and we expect him to do the same at Ferris State.”
A third-team 2002-03 Grand Rapids Press All-Area Dream Team honoree, Van Wieren twice (2002-03) attained first-team All-Ottawa-Kent (OK) Red Conference recognition. The two-time (2002-03) Holland Sentinel All-Area pick earned three varsity letters under head coach Von Washington and was ranked as the Detroit Free Press’ 28th-best prep basketball prospect prior to the start of the 2002-03 season.
“We’re hoping C.J.’s competitive instinct will help feed off to our other players,” said Sall. “He should be able to step in and contribute immediately due to his outstanding athletic ability. He will be great addition to our program.”
In football as West Ottawa’s quarterback, Van Wieren threw for 2,139 yards and 29 touchdowns during the 2002 campaign to rank 20th all-time among the state’s single-season passing leaders and sixth in touchdowns for a season. The three-time all-conference pick received Class A All-State First Team accolades along with first-team recognition on both The Detroit News’ and Grand Rapids Press’ Dream Teams. Van Wieren, who also was the Panthers' leading rusher with 930 yards and nine touchdowns, guided West Ottawa to an 8-3 record and the school’s first-ever playoff victory last fall after compiling 1,400 passing yards and 450 rushing yards as a junior in 2001.
Van Wieren, who plans to major in education, also was a two-year varsity baseball letterwinner and received West Ottawa’s Scholar-Athlete Award. The son of James and Diane Van Wieren, C.J. joins forward/center Adam Veltkamp (Cedar Springs), who signed in the fall, as FSU’s 2003-04 men’s basketball recruits to date.
Ferris posted an 11-15 overall record and a fourth-place 7-11 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division finish this campaign. The Bulldogs' overall record and league finish were their best since compiling a 21-12 mark and a fourth-place 10-8 league ledger during the 1997-98 season.
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