For Mason Struck, he had more than one decision to make when he decided to play ball in college.
He also had to decide on the ball.
The 6-foot-2 guard and member of the 2022-23 Saginaw News Boys Basketball Dream Team chose to play for Northern Michigan. But not basketball.
Struck plans to sign his NCAA letter of intent after Wednesday's basketball game against New Lothrop, but he will sign to play Division II football, not basketball.
Wednesday is the first official day of the NCAA winter signing period.
“I don’t necessarily know if it was a basketball versus football thing,” Chesaning football coach Matt Walter said. “It doesn't really surprise me. We've been talking about this for the last year trying to figure it out.
“Let’s just find the best possible place where he can be most successful, whether it’s basketball or football. He really fell in love with Northern Michigan.”
Struck, who averaged 15.6 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior, has basketball offers from Michigan-Dearborn and Malone, a Division II program in Ohio.
Instead, he expects to play receiver or tight end for Northern.
“He can play Division II football … 100 percent,” Walter said. “He has quick feet and great hands. He has a physique that you can add weight and muscle to. I don't think he fully found the weight room in high school because he was so focused on basketball.
“You can always work on speed and weight, but you can't teach 6-6. He weighs 210 pounds now, but they're going to add muscle to him. I would imagine he weighed 110 to 115 kilograms his sophomore year.”
Struck leads a Chesaning basketball team that is 16-0 and ranked seventh in the state in Division 3. He also started for a Chesaning football team that went 9-2 and qualified for the playoffs.
“It’s good for our program and good for our community,” Walter said. “We have athletes here. We don't get enough visits from universities. Hopefully younger athletes will recognize this. Mason set the tone.”
Saginaw Area Commitments
Jack Chiodini, Alma – Hope College, Swimming and Diving
Ava Devereaux, Chesaning – Heidelberg Volleyball
Charley Mahan, Chesaning – Lansing CC Basketball
Bo Schwartz, Bullock Creek-Michigan Tech Football
Zane Schwartz, Bullock Creek-Michigan Tech Football
Mason Struck, Chesaning – Northern Michigan Football
Cade Sutherland, Alma – football and basketball
If you would like your local high school sports news delivered daily to your inbox for free, click here to sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.
Do you enjoy reading about local sports? Don't miss out on any of the excitement of the upcoming season. Buy your subscription now and get full access to every story on MLive!
Comments are closed.