The Hope College men's basketball team is in action over this Thanksgiving weekend with the 19th annual Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Classic at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.
This is the Flying Dutchmen's 18th appearance in the GRSHOF Classic. Hope is seeking its sixth Classic championship.
The Flying Dutchmen have an all-time Classic record of 19-15, including titles in 2011, 2006, 2005, 2002 and 1997.
Hope did not play in the tournament in 2001 when it was a five-team tournament and it was the Flying Dutchmen's turn to not compete.
Click here for GRSHOF Classic history.
Junior guard Ben Gardner of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS), earned all-tournament honors in last season's GRSHOF Classic. He is one of 17 Flying Dutchmen who have been awarded all-tournament recognition for a total of 28 times.
Eight players are multiple honorees: Peter Bunn (2008-09, 2011), Stephen Cramer (2004-06), Joel Holstege (1996-97), Greg Immink (2002, 2005), Ryan Klingler (1996, 1998), Don Overbeek (2000, 2002), Andy Phillips (2003, 2005), and Marcus VanderHeide (2006-07).
Five Hope players have been named GRSHOF Classic Most Valuable Players: They are: Peter Bunn (2011), Derek Van Solkema (2006), Andy Phillips (2005), Don Overbeek (2002) and Joel Holstege (1997).
Two players are scoring in double figures for the Flying Dutchmen so far this season. Sophomore forward Harrison Blackledge of Canton, Ohio (Hoover HS), is averaging 13.5 points per game, while junior guard Alex Eidson of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), is second on the team at 12.5 points per game. Hope is averaging 73.0 points per game during its 0-2 start.
Hope has winning records against both Cornerstone and Aquinas all-time. In 31 games against Cornerstone, the Flying Dutchmen lead the series 19-12. Cornerstone won last year's meeting 79-73 behind 17 points from guard Ben Gardner. After 78 meetings with Aquinas, Hope is ahead 49-29. The Flying Dutchmen won 69-67 last season behind Gardner's points.
Hope's next games are Friday-Saturday, December 5-6 at the CCIW Challenge in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Flying Dutchmen will play host Carthage at 8 p.m. CST on Friday, then Wheaton (Illinois) at 1 p.m. CST on Saturday.
The Flying Dutchmen's next home games are Friday-Saturday, Dec. 19-20 with the Sentinel/DeVette Holiday Tournament at DeVos Fieldhouse. Hope will play Pittsburgh-Greensburg on Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST and Mount Union, Ohio, on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST.
