| 2024-25 Schedule | 2024-25 Roster | Recruits |
Change is upon the Marian Ancilla Men's Basketball team as they prepare for the 2024-2025 season. The 2023-2024 Chargers finished the season a modest 11-15 overall and 3-9 in the MCCAA, but they also said "goodbye" to six of their top eight scorers from a year ago. Guards Kameron Hordge (12.4p, 4.1r, 1.2a, 51 made 3s) and Bryan Rush (5.0p, 2.0r) opted to transfer, while guards Ben Jones (10.2p, 5.6r, 1.8a, 1.0s) and Willie Reece (9.7p, 2.8r, 1.5a, 1.1s), plus forwards DeAndre Coleman (6.2p, 2.3r) and Clayton Bubash (5.8p, 5.5r, 1.2a), left for 4-year schools following graduation in the Spring. Reece is now playing at Indiana University-Columbus, while Bubash is playing at Purdue University Northwest. Also missing from the sideline will be Head Coach Jeremy Herring, who has taken on more responsibilities within the academic portion of the university.
In the famous words of New York Yankee legend Yogi Berra, "it's deja vu all over again," in Plymouth, Indiana, as Aaron Butcher has returned to the Chargers as the "new" Head Coach. Butcher last led the Chargers during the 2017-2018 season, when they peaked at #1 in the country in NJCAA Division II. Coach Butcher does welcome the return of five key players from last year's squad. 6-5 Sophomore forward Jayden Sanders (11.0p, 6.4r, 1.6a) is the leading returning scorer and rebounder for Marian Ancilla, and he brings a lot of experience from last season. 6-2 Sophomore guard Marcellous Boyd (8.8p, 4.0r, 2.3a) is an active and athletic combo guard who also shot 35% from 3-point range last season. 6-1 Sophomore guard Sean Kimble (4.3p, 2.1r) has earned one of the captain spots this season because of his tireless work ethic. He plays extremely hard and impacts winning in a lot of ways. 6-2 Sophomore guard Tyshaun Grundy (0.8p, 2.6r, 3.3a) is a strong, physical perimeter player who has a solid handle and great vision. He has also stepped up as a perimeter defender. 6-5 Sophomore forward Dante Porch (2.0p, 2.1r) also returns after participating in just eight games a season ago. He is extremely long, athletic, and he plays with great versatility.
As for newcomers to the Marian Ancilla team, there are seven to highlight at this time. 6-3 Freshman guard Jordan Woods is an explosive athlete who can score the ball in bunches. He is another player who has earned the title of 'captain' because of his infectious attitude and energy. He was named 2023 Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year while at Hammond Central High School. 6-3 Freshman guard Matt King, another Hammond Central product, comes to the Chargers after a year at Bosco Institute. Matt is another high-flyer, a capable perimeter shooter, and an elite defender. 5-11 Redshirt Freshman point guard Kenneth Grant, yet one more Hammond Central graduate, transferred into Marian Ancilla in January from Calumet College of St. Joseph. He is strong, tough, athletic, and can provide perimeter shooting plus playmaking. Helping Grant on the ball will be 5-10 Sophomore Zavion Bellamy, a Kokomo native and transfer from Highland Community College, plus 5-10 Sophomore Ashton Oviedo, a Triton High School graduate and transfer from the University of St. Francis (IN). Bellamy was the starting point guard on Kokomo's State Runner-Up team a couple of years ago, and he adds ball-handling and shooting, while Oviedo can also really shoot it, plus he sees the floor well and understands situational basketball. Up front, the Chargers have added noticeable size in 6-8 Freshman forward Davione Doty and 6-10 Redshirt Sophomore post Deshawn Robinson. Doty grew up in Hammond but graduated from St. Francis de Sales in Chicago. He is extremely long and bouncy, plus he possesses some skill facing the basket. He's also versatile defensively. Robinson is another long, tall, fluidly athletic front-liner. He is a rim protector and adds some skill as well. Robinson will miss some games early this season due to injury, but expect the University of St. Francis (IN) transfer to add frontcourt depth sometime after Thanksgiving.
When you speak to Coach Butcher, it's hard not to get excited about the season ahead. "It has been a very productive preseason. Our guys have done a really good job learning and executing our system," he commented. "We like the roster we were able to put together in a fairly short amount of time, and we feel like we have a team that will really compete and will hopefully compete for the top of the MCCAA. It has been an enjoyable group to work with to this point and we are really excited to get the season started."
The Chargers begin their season this weekend when they head to the Lorain County Community College Classic. Marian Ancilla takes on a good Clark State College team on Friday, November 1st, at 4:00 pm. ET, then turns around the next day and plays the host, Lorain County Community College, also scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. ET tip. Please come out and support the Marian Ancilla Men's Basketball team this season!!
