Ferris State's Michael Peterson Graduates To New Opportunity At Michigan State

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University senior forward Michael Peterson (Rockford), who has spent the past five years in the Bulldog men's basketball program, will join the men's basketball squad at NCAA Division I Michigan State University as a graduate transfer for the 2021-22 season.

Peterson had his best season as a Bulldog this past winter, totaling nearly 10 points and a squad-high 6.6 rebounds per game in a starting role. The four-year letterwinner earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for the third-straight year and posted eight double-figure scoring games his senior campaign.

He will join the Spartans' squad as a preferred walk-on graduate transfer for his final collegiate campaign.

"While we will certainly miss having him around and his leadership, we're thrilled Michael has this outstanding opportunity to join one of the elite Division I programs in the country and celebrate what he gave to our program," said FSU head coach Andy Bronkema. "Over his career at Ferris State, he developed himself from a partial scholarship player to a starter and team captain thru hard work and dedication. His work ethic was outstanding and he displayed the type of leadership traits all championship programs need.

"This is a great opportunity for him to go to graduate school and pursue the chance to play at the Division I level," he added.

A GLIAC Commissioner's Award nominee, Peterson helped lead the Bulldogs to a top four finish in the GLIAC this past year and was an all-conference caliber performer on the hardwood. He's earned D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement honors three times in his collegiate career and was a member of the Bulldogs' 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship team. Overall, he helped lead the Bulldogs to three conference championships in his collegiate career along with three NCAA Tournament appearances.

After redshirting in 2016-17, Peterson appeared in 96 career contests for the Bulldogs over the following four seasons, including playing in every game the past three years. He totaled 443 points to go with 360 rebounds, 136 assists, 58 steals and 40 blocked shots as a Bulldog. Recently, he was chosen as the co-recipient of the school's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2020-21 campaign.

Off the court, Peterson has ranked as the Bulldogs' President's Academic Award honoree and been active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at FSU. He's also played a key role in the program's involvement with Mitchell's Run, an annual 5K event in his hometown of Rockford to raise funds for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy in recognition of his brother, Mitchell Peterson, who has been an honorary member of the Bulldog squad.

Peterson earned his degree this spring from Ferris State in finance.