Men’s Basketball players earn state and national awards; Shepard earns 4th Coach of the Year honor
The HFC Men’s Basketball team has received 14 post-season awards and honors from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Eastern Conference. Of the 14, freshman Jayce “JL” Branson won seven.
Branson, an alumnus of East Lansing High School, was named:
- National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American
- All-Region 12
- All-MCCAA
- MCCAA Eastern Conference Player of the Year
- MCCAA Eastern Conference Freshman of the Year
- MCCAA Eastern Conference All-Defensive Team
- Great Lakes District All-Tournament Team
“This marks the 11th Men's Basketball All-American in HFC history and the sixth in the last seven years. For context, our first Men's Basketball All-American at the College was in 1959, so to have six in the last seven years is an incredible feat!” said HFC Associate Athletic Director Kirk Bradley.
Added Coach Chris Shepard: “JL Branson is as good as any player we have had here, and he has a chance to be the best ever. We are blessed to have him, along with the rest of the players contributing to such a great team.”
MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship and MCCAA Championship winners
The Hawks’ record for the season was 20-8. They won the MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship and the MCCAA Championship. In addition to Branson, three standout players won post-season awards.
Freshman Machi Chester, a Washington D.C. native, was named:
- MCCAA East All-Conference
- MCCAA East All-Freshman Team
- Great Lakes District All-Tournament Team
“Machi had a really good year and is a great athlete. He was injured during the last game of the year, but he has a great future ahead,” said Shepard.
Freshman Wade Robinson, an alumnus of Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Pontiac, was named:
- MCCAA East All-Conference
- Great Lakes District All-Tournament Team
“I don't know if I have ever been happier for an athlete to earn this recognition,” said Shepard. “Wade worked so hard and had a really solid year.”
Sophomore Shemarion Hardy, an alumnus of Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio, was named MCCAA East All-Conference.
“He’s a two-year starter for us and was named all-conference twice,” said Shepard. “Shemarion has really grown as a player and person.”
Shepard named Coach of the Year for the fourth time
Shepard, who just completed his ninth season as the Hawks’ head coach, was named MCCAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time. He has also been named MCCAA Eastern Conference Coach of the Year three times and the NJCAA District Coach of the Year four times.
“None of these awards happen without really good players and great assistant coaches. A special thanks to Kirk Bradley; none of this happens without him,” said Shepard. “Overall, we did not achieve our ultimate goal of a national title. Nonetheless, the players worked really hard and were able to win two championships. They should be proud of the year they had, as I am.”