UOlivet trio earns All-MIAA Men’s Basketball honors

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A trio of players from The University of Olivet have been named to the 2025-26 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Teams. Juniors Nathan Richardson and Conner Schipper were selected to the All-MIAA First Team, and sophomore Porter Kretschman was chosen to the All-MIAA Second Team. All-league honors are based on the player's performance during the 14-game conference schedule.

Under the leadership of head coach Sam Hargraves, the Comets captured an MIAA regular season championship for the first time since 1972. Olivet shared the MIAA title with Hope College in 2018.

In MIAA play, Richardson averaged 14.3 points per game, while ranking first in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), steals per game (2.4) and total steals (33). He was second in assists per game (4.4) and total assists (61) and tying for third in field goal percentage (51.3). For the entire season, Richardson led the conference with 51 steals (2.0 per game), while ranking second in assists (90) and third in assists per game (3.6). He finished sixth in scoring (14.8 ppg) and total points (369). Richardson made 143-of-274 baskets for the third-best field goal percentage (52.2). He is now a two-time selection after earning 2025 All-MIAA Second Team honors.

"Nate really took a big step forward this year," said Hargraves. "His scoring and defense were there last year, but he became a floor general this year. Nate's biggest weakness has been turnovers. Even in some of our non-conference games this season he still had a turnover problem. For him to be at the top of the MIAA in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio has mirrored the success we have had in the win / loss column. Our coaches would say the biggest statistical impact on winning has been his ability to be an efficient playmaker."

Playing in 11 MIAA games, Schipper posted 10.5 scoring and 5.5 rebounding averages. He ranked second in total blocks (25) and blocks per game (2.3). Schipper blocked a league-best 53 shots in 22 games, while averaging 11.0 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is now a three-time All-MIAA pick after being a 2025 All-MIAA selction and 2024 All-MIAA Second Team choice.

"Skip's very deserving of this recognition," commented Hargraves. "So much of what we do on both ends of the floor involves him. We would be a very different team without Skip. So much of what he does doesn't necessarily show up on the stat sheet. I'm most excited that we have another year with him to watch him continue to grow."

Kretschman led all MIAA players with 140 total rebounds and 10.0 rebounds per game. He also averaged 11.7 points, while dishing out 38 assists and blocking 12 shots. Among all games, Kretschman ranked second in total rebounds (225) and rebounds per game (9.0), while recording a 10.3 scoring average.

"He's really growing and maturing on the basketball court," stated Hargraves. "We're proud of what he's becoming but still going to push him so hard for more in the future. He has some serious gifts and his ceiling is so high. For him to lead the league in rebounding at 6'4 shows that." 

The Comets are set to host the 2026 MIAA Tournament semifinals tonight inside the Cutler Event Center. As the No. 1 seed, Olivet plays No. 4 seed Trine University (Ind.) at approximately 7:30 p.m. The other semifinal features No. 2 Hope College against No. 3 seed Calvin University at 5:30 p.m.