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FSU

National Champion Ferris State Reloads Roster With Additions Of Two All-State Players & JUCO All-American

 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University men's basketball squad recently continued to reload its roster with the addition of three standouts who inked national letters of intent with FSU during the spring signing period.

The Bulldogs signed prep wings Carl Bow (Hazel Park) and D'Juan Seal (Detroit/Pershing) along with junior college All-American Walt Kelser (Walled Lake Central/Schoolcraft CC).

Previously, FSU added four prep signees during the fall signing period last November before going on the school's first national championship run.

"These three additions add to the versatility theme of our four November signees," said FSU head coach and D2 National Coach of the Year Andy Bronkema. "I look forward to completing this year's class soon and getting them all to campus to start to fit them together."

A standout wing, Bow averaged 20 points and six rebounds per contest this past season as a prep senior at Hazel Park High School under coach Brandon Barrett. He earned consensus all-state accolades from the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Bank Hoops. A first-team All-Oakland Activities Association pick, he was also named to both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News All-Metro North squads and was a 1,000 point scorer on the prep level.

Bow, who posted a career-high 40 points in a single game, led his squad to an 18-3 overall record and has been tabbed as the state's #3 combo player and #22 overall standout by Inside Prep Sports. He was also ranked among the state's top 40 players by Prep Hoops and played on the AAU level under coach James Vallar for the Greenwood Elite.

"Carl is a big time competitor and was the leader of a talented group that put Hazel Park on the map," Bronkema said. "His athleticism and determination stand out and will be valuable starting day one."

Seal, too, had a standout senior campaign, averaging 18.3 points along with six rebounds and three assists for Detroit Pershing High School under head coach Wydell Henry. A first-team All-Detroit Public School League (PSL) honoree, the 6-4 Seal was also chosen as an all-state choice by the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and Bank Hoops. He led Detroit Pershing to a PSL runner-up finish and claimed All-Detroit recognition as one of the city's top players.

In his prep career, Seal posted a career-high 31 points in a contest and was listed as the state's #4 small forward and #24 prospective recruit in the class of 2018 by Inside Prep Sports. Additionally, he was tabbed by Prep Sports as the #23 standout in this year's class. On the AAU level, he competed for the REACH program under coach Greg Russell.

"D'Juan is a high flyer who plays the game with passion and energy," said Bronkema. "He joins the ranks of Dontae Molden, Raymoan McAffee and Mory Diane as former doughboys to play recently for the Bulldogs."

Finally, the 6-0 Kelser tallied 21 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals this past year for Schoolcraft Community College under coach Abe Mashhour. He earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-America accolades and was an All-Region XII First Team pick. This season, he was chosen as the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Eastern Conference Player of the Year and also earned first-team All-MCCAA kudos in addition to being named to the District 10 All-Tournament Team.

As a sophomore this year at Schoolcraft CC, Kelser ranked 18th in the country in scoring average and totaled 39 points in a single game. He led his squad to a 23-8 overall mark. On the prep level, he competed for Chuck Spolsky at Walled Lake Central High School and also played AAU basketball for Judges Court led by coach Antione Joubert. Kelser is the nephew of Greg Kelser, a former Michigan State All-American and NBA veteran.

"Walt is already an accomplish college player and his experience and character are going to mix well into our team," said Bronkema. "He comes from a basketball family and will be counted on to replace some of our experience that is graduating."

This season, Ferris State captured the school's first national championship and also matched the all-time NCAA Division II record for victories in a season with a 38-1 campaign. FSU, which topped Northern State 71-69 in the national championship game in Sioux Falls, S.D., capped a magical season which saw the Bulldogs match the all-time NCAA Division II record for most wins in a year while finishing with a 38-1 mark.

FSU also won its second consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular Season Championship, a fourth-straight GLIAC Tournament title and the Midwest Regional crown.

While the Bulldogs lose five seniors and National Player of the Year Zach Hankins from this season's roster, FSU will return nine letterwinners for the 2018-19 season while welcoming in a highly-talented recruiting class.