Top men’s college basketball players: Check out our All-Area men’s team

Published: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 12:30 PM     Updated: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 1:43 PM

By Brian VanOchten | grsports@mlive.com The Grand Rapids Press

 GRAND RAPIDS — One national champion. Two close calls.

The local men’s college basketball scene featured some fantastic solo performances and a handful of special teams, including a fourth straight national title for Grace Bible College, this season.

Coach Gary Bailey guided Grace Bible to the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II championship. The Tigers claimed their fifth title in seven seasons with Bailey at the helm of the program.

Hope College, unranked at the beginning of the season, rose to No. 1 in NCAA Division III entering the postseason. The Flying Dutchmen went 27-2, losing only to NCAA D-I opponent Western Michigan in the regular season before suffering an upset to Illinois Wesleyan in the second round of the national tournament on their home court.  In the NCAA-II tournament, Hope junior power forward Nate Snuggerud, a former Zeeland East High School standout, put on a sensational scoring display with 37 and 40-point performances in two games.

His teammate, David Krombeen of Grandville, earned MVP honors in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association following a standout effort shooting, passing and stealing the ball all season.  Davenport University reached the first NAIA Division II Final Four in its history.

Additionally, Kolin Kazen of Holland, a former Saugatuck High School standout, blossomed into one of the MIAA’s top performers. He earned his place among The Press’ annual All-Area small-college men’s honorees.

FIRST TEAM
Wes Hudson
Cornerstone University
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6-0
Position: Guard
Highlights: Hudson (Wayland) was named to the All-WHAC first team after averaging 16.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He led the Golden Eagles to a return trip to the NAIA-II national tournament.

David Krombeen
Hope College
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
Position: Point guard
Highlights: Krombeen (Grandville) was named MVP of the MIAA after averaging 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He shot 35-of-84 (.417) from 3-point shooting range and .51.4 percent from the field while leading the Flying Dutchmen to a No. 1 ranking in NCAA Division III in the regular season.

James Nelson
Davenport University
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
Position: Shooting guard
Highlights: Nelson (New Haven) was named to the All-WHAC second team after leading the Panthers in scoring at 16 points per game. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and finished 41-of-99 (.414) from 3-point range.

Nate Snuggerud
Hope College
Year: Junior
Height: 6-5
Position: Power forward
Highlights: Snuggerud (Zeeland East) led the Flying Dutchmen in scoring (17.8), rebounding (7.1) and field-goal percentage (.615). He established career highs in both NCAA Division III tournament games, scoring 37 and 40 points.

James Thomas
Grand Valley State University
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
Position: Shooting guard
Highlights: Thomas (Grand Rapids Christian) was named to the All-GLIAC first team after averaging 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and finishing second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (.471).

SECOND TEAM
F Peter Bunn, Hope, Sr.
G Lonnie Fairfax, Davenport, Sr.
F James Humphrey, Davenport, Sr.
F Kolin Kazen, Albion, Jr.
F Tom Snikkers, Calvin, Jr.

THIRD TEAM
G Ronald Bates, Cornerstone, Sr.
F JaVontae Ford, Davenport, So.
G Cory Jamieson, Grace Bible, Sr.
C Ryan Krombeen, Grace Bible, Sr.
F Montay Lee, Kuyper, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
• Zach Eddy and Joe Powers (Aquinas)
• Matt DeBoer (Calvin)
• Justin Yoder (Cornerstone)
• Damacious White (Davenport)
• Kenny Brown and Daniel Sutherlin (Ferris State) • Ryan Dame, Matt Kurtz and John Oostema (Grace Bible)
• Breland Hogan and Nick Waddell (GVSU)
• Micah Gates and Alex Lyle (GRCC)
• Colton Overway (Hope)
• Anthony DeKam and Alex Rogers (Kuyper).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
David Krombeen

COACH OF THE YEAR
(tie) Matt Neil, Hope College
Gary Bailey, Grace Bible College