SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State (LSSU) men’s basketball has unveiled their team award winners for the 2024-25 season, as announced by Head Coach Steve Hettinga at the annual men’s basketball team banquet.

Senior Tyson Edmondson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) has been selected as his team’s most valuable player after a record-breaking season, individually. Edmondson was selected to the All-GLIAC First Team as well as the NABC All-Region First-Team, and he would go on to lead his team to their first NCAA DII Elite Eight appearance after scoring 75 points in three games at the Midwest Regional Tournament, resulting in him being named as the 2025 Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player. He led his team in scoring with 626 points on the year, including a program record 112 made three-pointers and becoming the 45th member of the 1,000-point club, while also tacking on 160 rebounds, 85 assists, 37 steals and a block.

Senior Hunter Soper (Lexington, Mich.) received the Bud Cooper Coaches Award. Soper made his mark on the defensive end of the floor this season, being selected as the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week an astounding six times before ultimately being named as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Soper was also named to the All-GLIAC First Team, scored 408 points, secured 261 rebounds, dished out 82 assists, notched a league-leading 60 steals, and blocked 38 shots. He was also one of six male recipients of the 2025 GLIAC Winter Commissioner's Award and was selected to the College Sport Communicator's Academic All-America First Team.

Redshirt-junior forward Kendall Smith (Muskegon, Mich.) received the Most Improved Player award. Smith provided his team with a spark off the bench time and time again, despite it not always being reflected in the box score. However, when his number was called in the postseason, he was ready, including drilling the dagger from the corner against Missouri-St. Louis to send his team to the Elite Eight.

Senior Kingsley Perkins (Ypsilanti, Mich.) was this year’s recipient of the Chris Buell Award. This award is presented to the student-athlete that best exemplifies toughness and a willingness to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team. Despite being often overshadowed in the box score by his teammates, Perkins continued to be a steady force for his team in whatever role was needed of him. The 2024 GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year was selected to the 2025 All-GLIAC First Team, All-GLIAC Defensive Team, and the Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team. When his number was called, he would often settle down the offense by going to work in the post, and in the regular season finale at Wayne State, he was able to score the game-winner with one second remaining in overtime to secure the victory. 

Senior Andy Soma (Traverse City, Mich.) has been selected as the winner of the C.J. Robinson Award which is presented to the team’s top defensive player. While Soma may not have received all of the same defensive accolades as some of his teammates, he was still able to make his presence felt, taking on the assignment of defending his opponent’s top guard, especially after being inserted into the starting lineup after the first five games of the season, and he concluded his career having played in a program record 139 games.

Senior Devin Womack (Ypsilanti, Mich.) was the recipient of the Tom Thornton Award which is presented to the student-athlete who persevered, never gave up, and was a great teammate. Womack may have seen his offensive output drop relative to his junior campaign, but that did not mean that his impact dropped as well as he carved apart defenses time and again, ensuring that his team’s offense was running smoothly, and when called upon, he continued to prove that he was more than capable of scoring himself, including in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament where he scored his first points of the game late in the contest with back-to-back threes to secure the win against Lincoln (Mo.). He was also selected to the 2025 All-GLIAC Second Team.

Senior Blake Cassidy (Pellston, Mich.) was the recipient of the ETJ Award. The LSSU men’s basketball program continues to live by three words that Coach Hettinga consistently preaches, ‘enjoy the journey,’ and Cassidy exemplified that throughout his career. What he brought to the table went far beyond his play on the court, often lifting the spirits of his teammates in the locker room so that the team could be successful. While his play may have been overshadowed by his teammates, the impact that he was able to provide away from the public eye proved to be vital to the trajectory of the program.