The Central Michigan Chippewas are coming off an 18-14 season and a 12-6 Mid-American Conference record. This mark was good for fourth in the conference and the best season in year three under head coach Tony Barbee.
After the successful season, CMU was among the most active teams in the transfer portal during the offseason. They lost seven players to the transfer portal, including several key contributors. Barbee brought in seven transfers to replace those losses, including several at the guard position, which was among the team’s strongest areas in 2023.
Here’s a look at the guards on this year’s roster:
Guards
Anthony Pritchard, 6-2, Senior
Pritchard had a breakout season in 2023 after transferring from Tulsa to CMU. In his junior season, Pritchard was the second player in program history to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and also received All-MAC First Team Honors. He appeared in 29 games for CMU and led the team in several categories, including points, assists and steals. The Chippewas return one of the best lead guards in the conference and will lean on the senior throughout the upcoming season. An improvement on Pritchard’s 26% from behind the arc last season could help the senior leader be a contender for the conference’s player of the year award.
Jakobi Heady, 6-6, Senior
The transfer from Bethune-Cookman averaged 15.4 points last season and made the All-Southwestern Conference Second Team after playing 34 for the Wildcats. Heady led Bethune-Cookman in scoring and was third in the SWAC in field goal percentage. The senior will provide the Chippewas with added scoring and a quality shooter from beyond the arc who should help boast a backcourt depleted by the transfer portal.
Kyler Vanderjagt, 6-4, Junior
The former Michigan Mr. Basketball runner-up and Belmont transfer appeared in all 33 games off the bench in 2023. Vanderjagt averaged 2.2 points per game in around 10 minutes per game for Belmont. This season, he returns home and will be a solid bench piece for CMU, who brings experience from a program that has reached March Madness eight times since 2006.
Cayden Vasko, 6-6, Sophomore
In his freshman season, Vasko started 31 games for the Chippewas, averaging 4.1 points per game. He was fifth on the team in rebounds with 3.1 per game. Vasko struggled from the 3-point line in 2023, shooting just 25%. The sophomore could be in line to start for CMU for the second straight year and could be a positive off-ball threat in Year 2.
Other Additions:
Damarion Bonds, 6-6, Junior
Transfer from Henry Ford (Mich.) C.C.
Gus Salem, 6-2, Freshman
Archbishop Wood (Calif) H.S.
Other Returners:
Shaedon Simpson, 6-6, R-Freshman
1.8 PPG
Drew Barbee, 6-3, R-Freshman
Did not play in 2023
Notable Departures:
Derrick Butler, 6-2, Senior
10.7 PPG, Transferred to Bowling Green
Paul McMillian, 6-2, Junior
8.3 PPG, Transferred to Canisius
Aidan Rubio, 6-6, Junior
6.8 PPG, Transferred to UNC Asheville
[…] is a look at the centers on this year’s roster. Make sure to also read about the Central Michigan guards and forwards in our other stories as part of this three-part […]