FSU Inks Chicago Native Bryant Orange
Note: Photo of Bryant Orange (#14) courtesy of Triton College Athletics by Johnny Boston.
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball program has inked its third player from the Chicago area this spring as the Bulldogs today announced the signing of Triton College All-America guard Bryant Orange (Chicago/Simeon).
The 6-2 Orange averaged 15.5 points per contest and nearly four assists per game for Triton College, which is a two-year junior college located near Chicago in River Grove, Ill. He attained National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II First Team All-America laurels.
"We're thrilled to bring in a high-caliber player with size and strength," said FSU head coach Bill Sall. "His addition really gives us a strong recruiting class. We hit the greater Chicago area hard this season and did a tremendous job of targeting and finding impact players."
Over his two seasons at Triton College, Orange helped lead the Trojans to a 59-11 mark as the program became a national contender under head coach Steve Christiansen. He wrapped up his career as one of the top players ever to wear the cardinal red and gold colors by scoring 767 points in 59 games played.
During his freshman campaign in 2010-11, Orange played only the second half of the season and had an immediate impact as he averaged 12.4 points per contest and earned Most Valuable Player laurels in the NJCAA Region IV Tournament after leading the Trojans to the national tournament.
He eventually claimed All-National Tournament Team recognition a year ago by elevating his play during Triton's magical run that fell just short of a national championship. Orange averaged more than 20 points per contest over four games in the national tourney and his 24-point perforamcne in the third-place contest propelled the Trojans to an overtime win and a school-record 31st victory to conclude the 2010-11 season.
As a sophomore this past season, Orange led the team in scoring and was named North Central Community College Conference (N4C) Most Valuable Player in helping Triton win the conference crown. In addition, he claimed NJCAA All-Region IV First Team recognition and was part of a squad that broke the school record for most consecutive home wins at 33 and counting. The Trojans finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 28-5 overall mark.
"Bryant does a nice job of getting to the basket and also has the ability to post down low," Sall said. "He had a highly-successful two years at Triton College and played at a prep basketball powerhouse in Simeon High School so he'll bring a tremendous amount of experience to our program."
As a prep senior, Orange helped lead Chicago Simeon to a second-straight Illinois High School Asssociation (IHSA) Class AA State Championship as one of five senior starters in 2007 on a unit that included current NBA All-Star and roommate Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Orange averaged 10 points and four rebounds on the state title team guided by head coach Robert Smith.
Ferris State ended the 2011-12 campaign with a 16-11 overall record after winning a share of a second-straight GLIAC North Division Championship with a 13-6 league mark.
The Bulldogs also made their 13th all-time GLIAC Tournament berth this past year, including the program's fourth-straight conference tournament appearance and seventh bid in the last eight years.
Additionally, Ferris State's 16 wins this campaign marked the 10th consecutive year in which the Bulldogs had won 10 or more games. It is also the third year in a row in which FSU has won at least 16 games and the fifth time the Bulldogs have done so in 10 years under Sall's direction.
In Sall's Bulldog head coaching tenure, Ferris State has won four league titles and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament.