UNIVERSITY CENTER, MICHIGAN — Saginaw Valley State University Coach Randy Baruth enters his ninth season in 2020-2021 at the helm of the Cardinal men's basketball program with seven new additions to his team's roster.

"We are pleased with the commitments we've received from our new recruits who are all excited to join our basketball program at SVSU," Baruth said. "These seven new players fit the culture of our program and join the 10 currently on our roster to help us compete at a high level."

The new recruiting class includes three Michigan products, including one from Saginaw:

• Zane Foster (Puyallup High School in Puyallup, Washington)
• Gabe Hawes (Laingsburg High School in Laingsburg, Michigan)
• Freddie McIntosh (Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Michigan)
• Vernon Nash (Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan)
• Steven Post (Centre of Sports in Zwolle)
• Tyrik Singh (Mid-Plains Community College-McCook in McCook, Nebraska), and
• Victor Young (Muncie Central High School in Muncie, Indiana).

Zane Foster is the son of Jayne and Zeb Foster. He graduated from Puyallup High School (Washington) in 2019. After graduating from Puyallup, the 7'1 center spent the 2019-20 year attending Elite Sports Academy in Washington, a prep school where he continued to improve his skills and increase his strength. While at Elite Prep, Foster averaged 13.3 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game and 2.6 blocks per game.

"Zane is a 7-footer with great timing and ability to block or alter shots," said Glenn Dean, who coached Foster at Elite Sports Academy. "He's very fluid and has great touch around the rim with the ability to stretch the floor to about 17 feet. Zane will impact the game by protecting the rim and being a reliable rebounder." 

"I chose SVSU for the coaching staff and their belief in me," Foster said. "I really enjoyed my visit to campus and think this opportunity will set me up for my future." 

"Zane is a great addition to our front line," Baruth said. "He has impressive skills and athleticism that complement his soft touch around the basket and outside shooting skills. His development as an athlete will escalate as he works with our strength coach."

Gabe Hawes is the son of Brad and Lynne Hawes. The 6'2 Hawes was a multi-sport athlete during his prep career, participating in track, baseball and soccer. As a senior, he was a First Team All-Conference honoree, earned All-State Honorable Mention and was the All-Area Co-Player of the Year (selected by the Argus Press). A strong outside shooter, he averaged 18 points per game. Hawes has selected business as his major at SVSU.

"I chose Saginaw Valley because in my brief time on campus I could tell the facilities were built for the players to get better and perform," Hawes said. "After meeting the coaches, I could tell how high of character they held their athletes to. And the winning culture and focus on not only basketball but individual accountability was something I wanted to be a part of."

"We really like Gabe's toughness as an athlete," Baruth said. "He's a great communicator, has a pass-first style of play and is really prepared to transition to the college level. Gabe comes from an excellent high school program where he was well-coached, and can play multiple positions for us, including point guard and shooting guard."

Freddie McIntosh is the son of Teaera Frazier. In addition to basketball, McIntosh participated in football and cross country at Saginaw High. As a 5'11 senior, he earned All-State, Dream Team, All-Area and All-Conference honors. A four-year varsity player, during his fourth year he was named by nextgenerationsports.net as one the Top Four Point Guards in the state of Michigan. In his senior season, McIntosh averaged 15 points and 6.7 assists per game, with a career high of 27 points in the 2019 MHSAA state tournament.

"I will miss Freddie's leadership," said Julian Taylor, an SVSU basketball alumnus (1995-98) and McIntosh's varsity head coach at Saginaw High. "Freddie was a four-year player for us and a joy to coach. I'm totally confident that his decision to attend SVSU was a great choice and he will leave his footprint there just as he did as a Saginaw High Trojan."

"I chose SVSU because it felt like home and nothing compares to the brotherhood here," McIntosh said. "Plus, who wouldn't want to represent by playing in college in their home city?"

"Competitor is the only word we need to define Freddie," Baruth said. "He will fit into our team culture very well. He comes to us prepared to be coached, perhaps, more than any player we've ever recruited at SVSU."

Vernon Nash III is the son of Carlehla and Vernon Nash Jr. During his prep basketball career, he averaged 16 points per game and shot 42% from 3-point range. The 5'11 guard was a three-time All-Conference selection and twice was Honorable Mention All-State. He also earned academic recognition as an Honor Roll student at Muskegon High School.

"I chose Saginaw because Coach Twardecki and Coach Baruth believed in me from the first time they saw me play," Nash said. "They actually gave me a shot and didn't brush me off because of my smaller frame. SVSU fits what I'm all about: toughness, grit and brotherhood.

"I love Vern's personality on and off the court," Baruth said. "He brings a positive energy that is contagious and will be evident to everyone who watches him play. Vern is another athletic player who is comfortable playing more than one position on the perimeter for us. He's a proven high-level scorer and an accurate 3-point shooter who will demand attention from opposing defenses."

Steven Post, a 6'10 forward, is a native of the Netherlands. He is the son of Derk and Katja Post. Post attended high school at the Centre of Sports in Zwolle, and played for the LandstedeHammers, RTC (Regional Talent Centre) of Dutch Federation. He averaged 24.4 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 54.2% from the floor and 34.6% from 3-point range.

"I chose for SVSU because it was the best fit for me and my family, both now and for my future goals and dreams," Post said. "The trust that the coaches have in me and their belief in my abilities convinced me to become a Cardinal."

"Steven has a very high basketball I.Q.," Baruth said. "He obviously adds height to our roster, but that doesn't mean he can't play anywhere on the court. He's very mobile for his size and can score from anywhere on the court, and we expect that will give us a lot of flexibility with where we can play him."

A native of Trinidad, Tyrik Singh is the son of Avis McIntosh and Rick Singh. At San Fernando Central Secondary School, Singh, in addition to basketball, participated in soccer, swimming and track (javelin). In his senior season, the 6'7 forward led his team to a Secondary School Championship and was the captain of his national under-19 squad. Prior to transferring to SVSU, he matriculated to Mid-Plains Community College-McCook (Nebraska) where he made the Dean's List. He has decided to major in accounting at SVSU.

"I chose SVSU because of the way the coaches embraced me through the recruiting process and treated me with love," Singh said. "I felt like it was a family environment and they showed that they would push me and put me in a position where I can further my talents and accomplish my future goals and aspirations."

"Tyrik will be an excellent role model for our younger players," Baruth said. "As a player, he's a skilled big man who can shoot and pass. In addition, he has an incredibly positive attitude and is on top of everything we ask him to do. His leadership qualities and work ethic make Tyrik a really key addition to our team."

Muncie Central (Indiana) star Victor Young is the son of Victor Young Sr., and Jalinna Edwards Elinza Young and Boomer Gilmore. At 6'4, the four-year varsity basketball athlete scored 1,000 points, earned First Team All-Conference and was an Indiana All Star Honorable Mention.

"I chose SVSU because it felt like home away from home," Young said. "On my visit, I could tell it was a true brotherhood and it was a place where I felt comfortable and where I wanted to play at the next level."

"Vic is a strong athlete with a body made for college basketball," Baruth said. "He is a proven scorer who can use his athleticism to finish above the rim. Vic is another recruit for us who was very well coached in high school and played for one of the top AAU teams (Indy Heat) in the state of Indiana."

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GLIAC programs will play a 22-game game schedule in 2020-2021 instead of the usual 28 games in recent years. First Team GLIAC pick Myles Belyeu, a junior guard from Trotwood, Ohio, leads the list of key returning Cardinals. He is joined by senior guard Darnell Hoskins, from Dayton, Ohio, and Malik Ellison, a senior point guard from Flint, Michigan, who was named to the 2019-2020 All-GLIAC Second Team.