Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball program has announced its first recruit in the class of 2011 as the Bulldogs recently signed prep big man Jared Stolicker (Middleville/Thornapple-Kellogg) to a national letter-of-intent during the fall signing period.
The 6-10 Stolicker will embark on his senior campaign at Thornapple-Kellogg High School this winter after earning all-state accolades by averaging 15.8 points, 15.8 rebounds and 4.9 blocked shots per contest in his junior campaign last season. He'll join the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2011-12.
"We're estatic to add Jared and really looking forward to having him on campus next year," said FSU head coach Bill Sall. "He's a big guy who runs well and is a tremendous rebounder that gets up and down the floor.
"He's been well-coached at the high school level and we're excited to sign him early," he added.
Stolicker helped the Trojans to a 10-win campaign a year ago in the competitive OK-Gold Conference. He claimed both Bankhoops.com and Detroit Free Press All-State laurels while earning honorable mention status on the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team.
The All-Barry County First Team selection scored 30 or more points in three different outings last year under prep head coach Lance Laker.
"He posted a double-double in a large perecentage of games last season while playing against tough competition in a good conference," Sall said. "We obviously hope he'll continue to get bigger and stronger at the college level, but he plays strong now and finishes well.
"Coach Laker has done a great job with him and he's coming off a good AAU season. I really believe he's going to blossom and have a great senior year this winter," he added.
Stolicker is the first signee this year for the Bulldogs, who will lose four seniors after the 2010-11 season, including the NCAA Division II Preseason National Player of the Year in 6-7 senior center Justin Keenan.
He's also from the same high school that produced former FSU guard Jon Yeazel, who wrapped up his Bulldog eligibility at the conclusion of the 2009-10 campaign.
Ferris State is off to a 2-0 start this year after winning a key regional game versus a nationally-ranked preseason top 10 team in St. Joseph's (Ind.) last night (Nov. 15) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.
The Bulldogs wrap up a season-opening three game homestand against Lewis (Ill.) this Saturday, Nov. 20, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids.