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2007-08 Season Preview

Even though there is a new face in Gene Gifford at the helm of the Olivet College men’s basketball program for the 2007-08 season, there are plenty of familiar faces on the roster. The varsity team features seven returning letterwinners from last year’s team. Gifford, a 1973 graduate of Olivet, was the head men’s basketball coach at Muskegon Community College (MCC) for 26 years prior to starting at Olivet Aug. 1.

Senior guard Jeff Cooper (Dowagiac) brings the most varsity experience, as he has earned a varsity letter each of the last three years. Last season, he earned second-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors, averaging 11.7 points per game (ppg) and 3.8 rebounds per game (rpg) in addition to 32 three-pointers. In 61 career games played at Olivet, Cooper has scored 508 points, grabbed 157 rebounds, knocked down 66 three-pointers, dished out 85 assists and made 52 steals.

Another 2006-07 second-team All-MIAA selection, junior Brandon Way (Detroit/Southwestern), returns to play the point guard position. In his first full season on the varsity team last year, Way led the Comets in scoring at 12.5 ppg, including a team-leading 48 three-pointers and 40 steals. He and Cooper each had 47 assists.

Sophomore Blake Brannick (Jackson/Lumen Christi) is a returning guard. In his rookie season last year, he saw action in 24 games, scoring 48 points and grabbing 26 rebounds.

At the forward position, senior Evan Jones (Charlotte) and Joel Kerns (North Judson, Ind.,) bring a year of varsity experience to the team. Jones played in 16 games, including four starts, while Kerns saw action in every game, posting averages of 5.1 ppg and 2.0 rpg. Seniors Paul Smith (Jackson/Napolean) and John Zenner (Kingsley) also saw playing time on the varsity team last year and each is expected to see time at either the guard or forward positions.

Junior Jon Teuber (Pinckney) and sophomores Brad Dugan (Oxford) and Lamar Johnson (Taylor/Truman) are newcomers to the varsity team after playing primarily at the junior varsity level in 2006-07. Junior center Rob Majors (Pinckney) has landed a spot on the varsity team this year as well.

First-year players on the varsity roster include two junior college transfers, Brandon McClary (Bellaire) and Andre Collins-Riddle (Lansing/Everett). McClary, a transfer from MCC, was a two-time All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference selection, and Collins-Riddle played two seasons of basketball at Lansing Community College. Freshman Michael McClary (Bellaire) joins his brother, Brandon, on the varsity team.

The Comets will open the 2007-08 season Nov. 16 when they travel to play Franklin (Ind.) College. The next night, Nov. 17, Olivet will play Andrews University in its home-opener at 7:30 p.m. at the Upton Center in Olivet.