The Calvin University men's basketball team was picked first in the MIAA Preseason Poll released on Thursday.
The Knights were the unanimous selection at the top of the poll, receiving all seven possible first-place votes. Trine University finished second in the poll with 16 total points, followed by Hope College with 18 points and one first-place vote.
Calvin enters the 2025-26 season coming off its third straight MIAA regular season championship following an undefeated 14-0 conference record in 2024-25. The Knights earned their second straight bid to the NCAA III Tournament (third in the last four seasons) and finished with a 21-7 record following a 1-6 start to the season.
The Knights must replace 2024-25 MIAA Most Valuable Player and All-American
Uchenna Egekeze, as well as All-MIAA First Team honoree
Owen Varnado, but returns two-time MIAA Most Valuable Player and 2023-24 D3hoops.com All-American
Jalen Overway (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) at center after he missed last season due to injury.
Overway, named a Preseason First Team All-American by D3hoops.com, averaged 19.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 55.7 percent from the field as a sophomore in 2023-24 while helping the Knights to the Elite Eight of the NCAA III Tournament.
Seniors
Luka Ressler (Caledonia, Mich./Catholic Central) and
Trevin Winkle (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian) also return in the starting line-up, with Winkle earning All-MIAA Second Team honors as a junior last season after averaging 10.5 points per game.
Also returning are juniors
Brady Ewing (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey) and
Parker Swartz (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview/Ohio Dominican) after playing pivotal roles last season, while
Jordan Scott (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian) also returns to the team after playing in 29 games as a freshman in 2023-24.
The Knights are ranked 12th in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 Poll and will open the season on Friday, November 7, when they travel to Denison University before playing at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, November 8.
