Ferris State Basketball Lands Highly-Touted Prep Recruiting Class
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball program, which is ranked among the nation's top 20 teams in two different NCAA Division II preseason polls, has landed four highly-touted prep recruits with the announcement of this year's signing class this past week.
FSU head coach Andy Bronkema inked the quartet of point guard Bennie Crenshaw (Waterford/Kettering), shooting guard Ethan Erickson (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern) along with wing Brandon Claerbaut (Zeeland/East) and post Nathan Claerbaut (Zeeland/East) to national letters-of-intent during the fall signing period, hauling in a group of the state's top prep recruits in the class of 2021.
The heralded recruiting class includes potentially the state's best shooter, Michigan's top center, one of the state's top point guard prospects and a pair of twin brothers with tremendous talent.
"Four early commits and signings is a lot and conventional wisdom says to save more for the end, but we simply could not pass on the pieces we knew we wanted," Bronkema said. "The evaluation and crosschecking of our staff was sound and assistant coach Raymoan McAfee lead the efforts.
"We have our point guard of the future, a lights out shooter, a mad man for the press and a post for the 4 out and one in style we like to play," he added. "The three families were all very involved in the recruiting process so much that I feel like their sons are already on the team. For the fans, here are some comparisons - think Jibreel Jackson, Quentin Ruff, Michael Peterson and Jared Stolicker. This recruiting class more than any other class recruited us and wanted to be Bulldogs and I think that made the difference in taking them all early."
The 6-0 Crenshaw is ranked among the state's top 30 players for Waterford Kettering High School under head coach Michael Marek. A three-time all-conference honoree, he tallied a career-high 33 points in a single game and averaged 22.4 points along with 3.1 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game a year ago. He's also played for the North Oakland Wolfpack and All Out Elite on the AAU circuit. Along with being one of the state's top performers overall, Crenshaw is also tabbed by Bank Hoops as the state's number two point guard.
"Bennie is a typical Ferris State player who works hard and gets better over time," Bronkema said. "We saw this process take place and are confident it will continue. We had a need to grab our next point guard to develop and he fit that need. His desire made this recruitment a great match and he'll have some wonderful players to look up to before one day he runs the show for the 'Dawgs."
Erickson, a 6-0 standout for Forest Hills Northern High School in the Grand Rapids area, tallied 20.5 points in addition to 4.5 assists and four rebounds a contest last season under head coach Joe Soules. An all-state honoree, he's tabbed as the state's #21 player by MLive and is a two-time all-conference honoree and Grand Rapids Dream Team pick. He totaled the most three-pointers in the state as a junior, making as many as 12 in one game, and was a top 10 shooter award recipient for three-point percentage and free throw percentage. In addition to leading his team to an 18-4 mark and scoring as many as 40 points in a single contest, Erickson has also played on the AAU level for the Grand Rapids Storm and head coach Jason Martin. He's ranked by Bank Hoops as the state's #4 guard and is #6 by Inside Prep Sports.
"I think a few people got fooled with the size, t-shirt and comb over, but not us," said Bronkema. "In many people's opinion, we have signed the best shooter in the state, which is good but not enough by itself. Ethan is so much more. His competitive drive is really what separates him and his skill set is diverse. He will make everybody else's job easier when he is on the court."
In Brandon Claerbaut, the Bulldogs signed a Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan All-State and Academic All-State performer. The 6-5 standout poured in 14.1 points with 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists last year for Zeeland East High School under coach Jeff Carlson. The OK-Green all-conference choice also earned Holland Sentinel All-Area accolades and was the team's Most Valuable Player. His efforts helped Zeeland East to a 16-6 mark and he posted a career-high 29 points in a game while being ranked as the state's #45 player overall. He also competed for the West Michigan Lakers and coach Brian Stezowski on the AAU circuit. Claerbaut is listed as the state's #6 wing by Bank Hoops and is the #8 power forward in the state according to Inside Prep Sports.
"Brandon has a huge chip on his shoulder and he plays like it," said Bronkema. "He fits our system perfectly at the top of the press and zone. He is a prototype. Energy is contagious and we see him bringing that to the floor starting from day one."
Meanwhile, Brandon's brother, Nathan Claerbaut, is another talented West Michigan product who totaled 13.4 points along with 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists last year for Carlson at Zeeland East. The 6-11 big man was a first-team all-conference choice in the OK-Green and is ranked 29th in the state. He scored a career-best 24 points in a game and also played for the West Michigan Lakers. Overall, he's the state's #1 center by Prep Hoops and is #2 at his position by Bank Hoops.
"We are excited to sign the top center in Michigan and plan to develop Nathan in the line of big's before him," Bronkema said. "Our four-out, one-in system needs a big man in the middle and Nathan has been recruited to be just that. He really understood, accepted and valued the process we laid in front of him and because of that, I'm confident he will reach his potential."
The Bulldogs, who compiled a 27-6 overall record last season en route to a NCAA Division II National Tournament berth, are a consensus top 20 team in two different D2 polls announced to date. Ferris State is slated to open the conference schedule as the defending GLIAC Champion in early January. FSU is the lone GLIAC team found in the national preseason rankings this year.
Ferris State, which captured the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, has currently won 20 games or more six consecutive seasons. FSU has also reached the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years, including last March when the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.