Division III/NAIA Update: Damon Franklin, Chris Hutton among local players excelling

Left to right, Chris Hutton, Damon Franklin and Nate Cox.

Last week, we took a look at how Flint area kids are doing at the JUCO level. Here’s the list of updates on kids at the NAIA and Division III level. If any have been left off, feel free to add names in the comments and I’ll at them into the story.

Chris Hutton, Lapeer West/Albion junior: Hutton, who was named Player of the Week in his conference earlier this season, is second on his team in scoring at 11.2 points per game. He’s one of only two Britons averaging in double figures this season and he’s helped lead Albion to a 14-11 record this season.

Damon Franklin, Flint Northwestern/Mott/SUNY Cobbleskill senior: Franklin has been a standout at SUNY. He was recently selected to his all-conference second team and was named Player of the Week in his conference this week. Franklin, a team captain, leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game respectively.

Joey Jerisk, Bentley/Alma freshman: An All-Stater at Bentley, Jerisk has appeared in 18 games for Alma this season, averaging 1.4 points per game. Jerisk staked his reputation in high school on being one of the toughest competitors and hardest workers around, and those traits should make him a key player at Alma as his career progresses.

Torey LaFerney, Goodrich/Olivet Nazarene sophomore: LaFerney, a key player for Goodrich on their team that just missed upsetting eventual state champion Powers in districts, has played in 21 games (2 starts) at Olivet Nazarene, averaging 2.5 points per game.

Dustin DeShais, Brandon/Alma sophomore: DeShais is averaging 2 points and 1 rebound per game in 21 games for Alma. He’s shooting 49 percent from the field.

Colin Angle, Goodrich/Principia junior: Angle started 15 of the 23 games he played in at Principia this season and was third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game.

Brian Sheridan, New Lothrop/Alma sophomore: Sheridan has appeared in 16 games for Alma and scored 17 points on the season.

Mitch Vallie, Goodrich/Calvin freshman: Vallie, who played his senior season at Goodrich after transferring from Grand Blanc, has appeared in five games at Calvin this season, averaging 3 points and 1 rebound per game.

Cody Campbell, Swartz Creek/Hope freshman: Campbell is currently biding his time with the Hope JV team, learning at one of the best D-III programs in the country. Hope’s varsity team is 19-6 overall this season.

Elvin Caldwell, International Academy/Kalamazoo senior: Caldwell has appeared in three games for Kalamazoo this season, scoring two points.

Evan Levine, Valley School/Kalamazoo junior: Levine, a 6-foot-4 forward, is listed on the Kalamazoo roster but hasn’t appeared in a game this season.

Russell Hope, Swartz Creek/Alma sophomore: A smooth shooting point guard at Creek, Hope is a sophomore on the JV team at Alma.

Andrew Patrick, Goodrich/Concordia freshman: The most decorated player in Goodrich history has made an impact as a freshman at Concordia, averaging 7 points and 2 assists per game off the bench. He also had a solid showing vs. University of Michigan earlier this season.

Thomas Lovachis, Holly/Concordia freshman: Lovachis, who finished his high school career at Holly after starting at Stockbridge, has also seen decent action as a freshman at Concordia, appearing in 16 games and averaging 2.3 points per game off the bench. He was one of the more athletic players in recent Metro League history last season.

Zach Koerner, Lapeer West/Concordia junior: Koerner has appeared in four games but has yet to score for Concordia this season.

Nate Cox, Flushing/Davenport senior: Cox, a solid player at Flushing, has really blossomed at the college level. He became Davenport’s all-time leading scorer last year and leads the team in scoring at 18.1 points per game this season.

Luke Sorenson, Clio/Davpenport freshman: A seven-footer, Sorenson hasn’t appeared in a game yet for Davenport, but as he adds strength, he could become an impact player at the NAIA level.

Ryan Kosko, North Branch/Davenport freshman: Kosko, a 6-foot-5 forward, is currently on the JV roster at Davenport.

Darryll Dixon, Hamady/Marygrove freshman: Dixon, one of the Flint area’s more underrated players last season at Hamady, is having a good season for Marygrove, averaging nearly 10 points and two assists per game in 26 games this season.

Eddie Johnson, Lapeer East/UM-Dearborn sophomore: Johnson has scored 32 points in 29 games for the Wolves this season.

Marquel Ponder, Carman-Ainsworth/Hannibal-LaGrange freshman: Ponder, a diminutive and speedy guard who inexplicably didn’t get much playing time at C-A, is on the roster for Hannibal-LaGrange, a NAIA school in Missouri.

Justin Fowler, Holly/Lake Forest freshman: Fowler, a sharpshooting point guard at Holly, is on the Lake Forest (Illinois) roster, but hasn’t played a game this season.

Derek Warner, Goodrich/Trine University freshman: Warner, a bruising forward at Goodrich, has appeared in one game and scored two points for Trine this season.

Kyle Sherwin, Holly/Dominican University freshman: Sherwin has appeared in 15 games (3 starts) for Dominican and is averaging 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.

Jared Kaczmarczyk, Birch Run/Olivet freshman: Kaczmarczyk, a high scoring guard at Birch Run, is on the JV roster for Olivet this season.

Patrick Haggin, Grand Blanc/Depauw freshman: Haggin, one of the best 3-point shooters in recent Flint area history, has appeared in 17 games at DePauw (Indiana) and is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. He’s scored 22 points this season.

DeAndre Johnson, New Lothrop/Indiana Tech freshman: Johnson, a standout at New Lothrop, is currently on the JV team at Indiana Tech.

Adrian Hunter, Grand Blanc/Southern Nazarene (Oklahoma) junior: Hunter is averaging 2.4 points and 1 assist per game off the bench for Southern Nazarene, where he ended up after one season at Central Michigan. He has played in 28 games this season.

Devon Weaver, Flint Northwestern/Kellogg CC/Lindenwood junior: Weaver, who played two years for Kellogg Community College, is a 6-fot-6 shot blocker who is having a big season for Lindenwood, leading the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game. He’s also third on the team in rebounding and leads the team in blocked shots.