Sports - The Eastern Echo

Eastern Michigan volleyball releases 2019 slate

By Zach Sturgill · Saturday, July 13, 2019

The EMU volleyball team is entering the 2019 season as defending MAC Champions and seek to repeat with a promoted Darcy Dorton as head coach. The upcoming schedule is now complete for the team, which lost three senior players but now returns four seniors and two juniors. This will be the 43rd season program history.

Brief: Former Eagles star picked up by Knicks summer league team

By Tiauna Allen · Saturday, July 6, 2019

Former Eastern Michigan guard, Tim Bond was added to the New York Knicks summer league roster last month, per Eastern Michigan Athletics. Bond played for the Eagles from 2014-2018 and was named the 2018 MAC Defensive Player of the Year in his senior campaign.

EMU football gets new commit Rico Small

By Zach Sturgill · Saturday, July 6, 2019

Eastern Michigan football has a new commitment in Rico Small out of Northeast Cleveland. Small is a 3-star wide receiver that made his announcement on June 24 via Twitter.

Milan defensive back commits to the Eagles

By Charles Post · Friday, July 5, 2019

Tristen Hines announced his commitment to play for the Eastern Michigan football program on June 22, 2019. Hines is a 175-pound defensive back out of Milan. He will graduate from Milan High School in 2020 and will attend Eastern Michigan the following school year.

Carter announces commitment to EMU football

By Charles Post · Sunday, June 30, 2019

David Carter Jr., a 3-star recruit according to 247 Sports, announced his commitment to play for Eastern Michigan on June 12, 2019 via Twitter. Carter is heading into his senior year at River Rouge High School. He is a 6’0” cornerback who weighs approximately 170 pounds.

Jamell Harris plans to continue professional career

By Charles Post · Sunday, June 30, 2019

Jamell Harris joined the Eastern Michigan basketball program as a freshman that knew if he worked hard enough, he’d earn minutes and work himself into the rotation. Four years later, he became one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in school history and helped bring the program their first ever MAC West division title.

Justin Meis' freshman season in review

By Zach Sturgill · Monday, June 24, 2019

Eastern Michigan baseball is one month removed from the last time they played, finishing out the 2019 season against Kent State. The Eagles had a 6-21 conference record in a season that featured the young talent that this Eagles team had on the field. Here is a look at the freshman season of Eastern Michigan pitcher Justin Meis.

James Thompson IV works out with Knicks and Wizards

By Tiauna Allen · Wednesday, June 19, 2019

James Thompson IV earned the opportunity to work out with the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards this month after closing out his senior year with Eastern Michigan this past March.. As a former student athlete for the Eagles, Thompson left his mark on the basketball program, ending his career as the all-time leading rebounder in Eastern Michigan history.

Seven EMU football players placed on Athlon All-Mac preseason teams

By Tiauna Allen · Monday, June 17, 2019

Athlon Sports announced that seven Eastern Michigan University student athletes made preseason All-MAC last month.

Earl Boykins reflects on playing and coaching career

By Charles Post · Thursday, June 13, 2019

More than 20 years after his time at Eastern Michigan, the name Earl Boykins still means a lot to the Eagles’ athletics program. He helped put the basketball team on the national scene with two NCAA Tournament appearances in four years. In the 21 seasons since Boykins graduated from EMU, he’s had a successful NBA career with multiple teams and started his own AAU program named Boykins Basketball Academy.

Strong future ahead for Emoni Bates and Ypsilanti Lincoln

By Zach Sturgill · Sunday, June 2, 2019

Emoni Bates, the 6'8 high school freshman out of Ypsilanti Lincoln High School, has been tagged as the No. 1 player in the 2022 class across the country. ESPN, Ballislife.com, SLAM Magazine, and more have been covering Emoni Bates and his potential to become an NBA star. Lincoln made a run in March to the reach the MHSAA boys’ championship at the Breslin Center.

Looking ahead to the 2019 Detroit Lions season

By Hayden Vassar · Friday, May 31, 2019

The Lions are coming off a 6-10 finish to their season which saw them finish in last place in the NFC North. It was also the first year under new coach Matt Patricia. With the 2018 season now firmly in the rearview mirror for all 32 NFL teams, the Lions have started their 2019 campaign off on a high note taking Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson in the first round of the draft on April 28.

University of Michigan hires Juwan Howard as new head basketball coach

By Tiauna Allen · Friday, May 31, 2019

After it was announced that John Beilein would be leaving Michigan to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Wolverines hired Fab Five member, Juwan Howard. The Wolverines and new head coach, Howard agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday, May 22. Howard played basketball at Michigan for three years before being drafted in the NBA by the Washington Bullets. He helped the Fab Five make two national championship games during his time in Ann Arbor.

2019 NBA Finals preview and prediction

By Hayden Vassar · Thursday, May 30, 2019

The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors will square off in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals on May 30 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in Scotiabank Arena. It is somewhat fitting that the Raptors have homecourt advantage during the finals considering this is the first time in franchise history that the team has made it this far.

Eagles 2019 baseball season in review

By Charles Post and Zach Sturgill · Saturday, May 25, 2019

The 55-game schedule wrapped up for Eagles' baseball last week when they were swept by Kent State at home. EMU finished with a record of 11-43-1 and 6-21 in conference, which put them at ninth place out of 10 teams in the MAC. There were some young and bright spots on the roster, though, who were producing more and more as the season went on.

Steelers invite Ross Williams to rookie mini camp

By Charles Post · Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Pittsburgh Steelers invited former Eastern Michigan defensive back, Ross Williams, to rookie mini-camp. Williams is the fifth EMU player to get a chance in the NFL, as he joins Maxx Crosby, Blake Banham, Ka’John Armstrong and Jeremiah Harris. Williams played in 29 games during his four-year career with the Eagles.

Who should the Detroit Pistons draft?

By Tiauna Allen · Thursday, May 23, 2019

After picking up six-time All-Star Blake Griffin and former Toronto Raptors head coach, Dwane Casey in 2018, the Detroit Pistons have been looking to build the roster around them. The Pistons didn’t make a pick until the second round last year after their first-round pick was involved in the trade that acquired Griffin. Ultimately, in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Pistons acquired two guards, Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown Jr. Some would say that the Pistons found success during the 2018-19 season, despite finishing the season with a 41-41 record. The team found itself just barely in the playoffs.

EMU baseball falls to Kent State on Senior Day

By Charles Post · Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Eastern Michigan baseball team was swept by Kent State in the final series of its season. The Eagles finished with a 6-21 record in the MAC and a 7-12 record on their home field. Eastern Michigan celebrated Senior Day on Saturday, May 18 at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti.

24 hours of heartache for New York sports

By Hayden Vassar · Tuesday, May 21, 2019

New York sports went through an excoriating 24-hour period last week, starting from the highest of highs and ending at the lowest of lows. The New York Knicks had their dreams crushed in the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday, May 21, followed up by the New York Jets firing their general manager and hiring their head coach as the interim general manager the next day.

How the Red Wings can get back on track

By Charles Post and Alex Boulton · Saturday, May 18, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings reached the playoffs in 25 consecutive seasons, including winning four Stanley Cup Finals, before failing to reach the postseason in 2016-17 as they went just 33-36-13. Since then, the Red Wings have missed the playoffs another two years and finished 2018-19 with only 32 victories. Being eliminated from playoff contention in three straight years after playing deep into the postseason for nearly three full decades is a major wakeup call.