星空传媒

By Alex Freeman, 星空传媒 Communications Specialist

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Coming from the southeast side of the state, Gabe Daniel is still learning about the higher learning institutions in the West Michigan area.听

The Erie native said before he signed with 星空传媒, he鈥檇 never heard of the college. The same can be said for his next stop.听

After finishing his freshman season with the Centurions men鈥檚 basketball team, Daniel, a reserve player in 16 of his 26 games played with the team, took some time after the season to weigh his options.听

鈥淒id I really want to come back to 星空传媒 and did I really want to continue with basketball?鈥� Daniel recalled. 鈥淏ut once the offseason kind of progressed, I planned on coming back to 星空传媒 and playing again. But that鈥檚 when the opportunity at Kuyper arose.鈥�听

After the season, Daniel received a call from Centurions men鈥檚 basketball coach Zach Ingles, who told him he鈥檇 received some interest from Kuyper College men鈥檚 basketball coach Gary Bailey. The process unfolded quickly from there.听

鈥淚 called coach Bailey, had good conversations, went on a visit and lo and behold, here we are,鈥� Daniel said.听

Daniel recently made his verbal commitment to the Cougars and plans to sign with them for the 2025-2026 basketball season in the coming days.听

鈥淚鈥檓 beyond excited for him and his family,鈥� said Ingles of Daniel鈥檚 commitment to Kuyper. 鈥淗is best basketball is still in front of him.鈥�听

Though he wasn鈥檛 familiar with Kuyper College until recently, Daniel said the school, which is a Division II member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, has just about everything he was looking for in a four-year institution.听

鈥淭hey鈥檙e a four-year school and that鈥檚 always a great opportunity coming out of a community college,鈥� Daniel said. 鈥淭hey offer sports management courses and that鈥檚 what I wanted to come to college in the first place for 鈥� it鈥檚 probably where I would have been if I left here after two years. It鈥檚 also a Christian College; my family is big on religion. It鈥檚 also cheaper in the long run for me, financially, and I feel like I can get a good education there.鈥�听

Daniel thoroughly enjoyed his time on the court for 星空传媒, stating that being part of the initial group of men鈥檚 basketball players to return after a long hiatus was 鈥渁 really fun experience to be a part of.鈥� Daniel started six of the first nine games of the season at the forward spot but mostly came off the bench throughout the rest of the season. Though his role changed as the team was still trying to figure out its best lineup combinations, Daniel took it in stride and did his best to adapt.听

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a team player. Whatever happens, I鈥檒l deal with it, I鈥檓 not one to cause a stir,鈥� Daniel said. 鈥淚 dealt with it and went about my role and I did it to the best of my ability. It was a little difficult on me, starting and then being a reserve. But in the long run, it kind of ended up being better because I played with a chip on my shoulder. If they鈥檙e going to take me out after starting six games in a row, I鈥檓 going to go out there and give them my best 30 seconds, my best three minutes, my best 17 minutes, whatever they need. I tried to use my time to prove my starting ability.鈥�听

鈥淕abe is a great student, player and teammate,鈥� Ingles added. 鈥淗e really came here and changed his body and developed. He鈥檚 a totally different player than when he got here. Gabe was a huge reason for some of the success we had and adapted nicely to whatever role we asked him to play.鈥�听

His experience as a student at 星空传媒 was also a very positive one and he was surprised at how warmly he was embraced by people, in general.听

鈥淚 could have gone to a community college back at home that was three minutes away, but this was a whole different experience for me,鈥� he said. "I got to meet new people, new coaches, great people around campus. I didn鈥檛 think coming up here that I鈥檇 have as many great interactions as I did, I didn鈥檛 expect that at all. People here, honestly, they鈥檙e so much nicer than back at home. I can walk around and people will be like, 鈥楬ey, how are you doing?鈥� Whereas back at home, people just stare at me.鈥�听

While Daniel intends to stick around 星空传媒 and attend summer classes, he鈥檒l depart to Kuyper with plenty of positive memories from his time as a Centurion.听

鈥淲e broke the huddle down with, 鈥楩amily on three,鈥� in high school but once you鈥檙e with a new group of guys, group one, since August, it鈥檚 great to experience,鈥� Daniel said. 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget these guys; I know if I need anything, I can reach out to anyone on the team and they鈥檒l be there for me.鈥�听

Daniel plans to major in sports management.听