2025-26 Men's Basketball Season Preview

Hope tips off the season with two games in Indiana

Head coach Greg Mitchell has been encouraged by what he has seen from the Hope College men's basketball team during preparations for the 2025-26 season.

"I love our competitive energy. First of all, we've got a lot of guys. We're deep, and the margin between player seven and player 21 is thin, which is fantastic," Mitchell said. "We feel like we're defending really hard, rebounding with some passion. We stat every practice right now, and we're shooting it better than we have. We're hoping that translates as we open this weekend."

The Flying Dutchmen aim to improve on a 16-12 season that included a third-place, 9-5 finish in MIAA play.

Hope graduated five seniors, including All-MIAA First Team center Gabe Quillan, who led the team with 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Greg Mitchell, 12th season (199-96)
Associate head coach: Ken George
Assistant coaches: Ryan Klingler, Tom Davelaar
Junior varsity coach: Ty George

SCHEDULE

The Flying Dutchmen open the season this weekend with two games in Indiana: tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Anderson University and Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin College.
Hope's first home game at DeVos Fieldhouse is Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. against Wheaton College (Illinois). It is the first of 13 scheduled home games.
Other home highlights include:

Glenn Van Wieren Classic on Friday-Saturday, Jan. 2-3, featuring Washington University in St. Louis, Muskingum University (Ohio), and Olivet College.
Poster Giveaway and H-Club Night on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. vs. Adrian College.
The Rivalry game vs. Calvin University (date TBA).

The Flying Dutchmen placed third in the 2025-26 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. They received one first-place vote and totaled 18 points, trailing first-place Calvin University (7 first-place votes, 7 points) and second-place Trine University (16 points). Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

Hope finished ahead of fourth-place Olivet (23 points), Albion College (31), Adrian College and Kalamazoo College (40 each), and Alma College (49).

"It's a great schedule," Mitchell said. "There are Final Four teams, league championship teams, NCAA tournament teams. Then there's a variety of styles, too. We've got to go this weekend and play a really challenging zone against Anderson, then the next night face a team in Franklin that wants to press and run and jump.

"There's no rest for the weary, but I think that keeps our guys sharp and focused. It's a no-day-off mentality, and that's exactly how we want it to be as we grow and figure out who we're going to be. It's one thing to reveal who you are through those games; it's another to rise up and win those games to help your strength of schedule down the road."

ROSTER

Two returning All-MIAA Second Team selections bolster the lineup: senior guard Marcus Wourman (Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) and junior forward Parker Hovey (Hart, Michigan / Hart).

Wourman is Hope's top returning scorer after averaging 12.9 points and 2.7 assists over 21 games last season. The 5-11 guard also contributed 3.0 rebounds per game.

Hovey is the top returning rebounder after averaging 6.0 rebounds and 11.7 points over 26 games last season. The 6-5 forward scored in double figures in 17 games.

"As veterans, Parker and Marcus give you stability and leadership, but the key is the sense of urgency they both have as upperclassmen and captains," Mitchell said. "Just because you're older doesn't mean a thing unless you apply it. Both had great offseasons. They're healthy and hungry."

Hovey, Wourman and senior guard Justice Mims (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Rochester Adams) are team captains. Mims averaged 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season.

The Flying Dutchmen also return three players who averaged double-digit minutes last season:

6-3 sophomore guard Brady Miller (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central)
6-5 junior forward Simon Neuhaus (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central)
6-6 sophomore forward Charles Howell (Cadillac, Michigan / Cadillac).

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