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Echols named preseason GLIAC Player of the Year, NMU men picked to finish 2nd

Naba Echols

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University guard Naba Echols has definitely made a name for himself during his career with the Wildcats and his impressive skills were acknowledged recently as he was picked to be the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Echols tied with teammate Isaiah Johnson for the team lead with 17.5 points per game last year and led the Wildcats outright in assists. Echols and Johnson both earned spots on the Preseason First Team, and both were named to the All-GLIAC First Team last year. That was the first time NMU has had a member on the First Team since 2008.

As a squad, NMU was picked to finish second in the GLIAC North Division by the conference coaches. The Wildcats got 47 votes and three first place points. Last year’s Division II national champion Ferris State was selected to win the division. Michigan Tech was picked to finish third and Ashland was predicted to win the South Division.

In addition to Echols and Johnson, Northern also has two GLIAC All-Defensive Team members coming back in Sam Taylor and Myles Howard. Taylor led the Wildcats in steals with 40 and Howard was second in the conference in blocks.

Ishpeming alum Hart Holmgren headlines this year’s freshman class after making the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-U.P. Dream Team in March.

NMU plays Michigan State in an exhibition game tonight in East Lansing and will open the regular season at home Nov. 10 against McKendree.

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