BLOG 3: Excitement is in the air as Bulldogs begin preseason hoops practice

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State’s Darryl Nobles goes in for a layup as the ball is knocked away by fellow Bulldog Darien Gay (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – We’re still a little ways before the start of the season, but Ferris men’s basketball head coach Bill Sall already is excited to be back on the hardwood in preparation for the start of the season.

“I’m excited to get going and it’s always this way during the first few days of practice where you finally get a chance to see what you’ve got,” Sall said as his program has increased its player depth and talent level with a second consecutive strong recruiting class. “The good thing about the team we have right now is they really dedicated themselves this summer to getting better physically and as basketball players. We had a lot of guys work hard during the summer up here to prepare for this time of the year.”

Thanks to strong recruiting led by Sall and top assistant coach Cory Anderson, this year’s squad features a 16-man roster. Sall, entering his seventh season as head coach, feels he has 16 guys who can play. That equates to a lot of bodies to go at it during practice and in game competition. In other words, expect competition for spots and playing time.

The Bulldogs return six sophomores to the mix, including standout big man Justin Keenan, to go to battle in against some strong Division II competition. In addition to Keenan, Ferris also welcomes back five of his classmates (Darryl Nobles, Darien Gay, Matt DeHart, Lou Williams and Bryan Pasciak). Jim Boylan, a 6-foot-10 center is back as a redshirt freshman and showing some signs of progress.

Added to the roster is a strong class that brings some much-needed experience led by transfers Austin Randel, Verdell Billingsley and Josh Young.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com