VERSAILLES – Connor Stonebraker, the son of Jacki and Shane Stonebraker signed with the NCAA Division II Hillsdale College Chargers men’s basketball program while continuing his education.
“He’s one of the best to come through here,” said veteran Versailles coach, Travis Swank. “He has worked his tail off to get to where he’s at.”
Stonebraker narrowed his choice of school’s to Walsh University and Hillsdale with a second visit to the Michigan school becoming the deciding factor.
“It was pretty difficult,” Stonebraker said of his decision. “I thought Hillsdale was a better fit the second time I went there.”
The Versailles senior has a final season to play for the Versailles Tigers before taking his basketball skills to Hillsdale where he will study mathematics.
Hillsdale plays in the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) where the men’s basketball program had a 2020-2021 21-3 record and a 2021-2022 23-8 winning record.
“I am ready to go, I’m ready to play under Coach Tharp,” Stonebraker said. “I am excited – the coaches are all really nice and just excited to get up there.”
Current G-MAC members include: Ashland University (OH), Cedarville University (OH), University of Findlay (OH), Hillsdale College (MI), Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY), Lake Erie College (OH), Malone University (OH), Ohio Dominican University (OH), Tiffin University (OH), Trevecca Nazarene University (TN), Ursuline College (OH) and Walsh University (OH).
The 6’7” Versailles senior’s skills, work ethic, attitude and size will all contribute to probable freshman playing time for the Chargers.
“Just try my best to get on the court just as quick as I can,” he stated.
“When he was with us as a freshman he was 6’0”,” said Swank. “Probably saw himself as a guard and now he’s blossomed into this monster of a post player and makes a matchup nightmare for a lot of people.”
“He’s a good kid and that’s really what you like to see,” Coach Swank concluded. “A good kid succeeding and he’s done it because he’s put the time and effort to get to this level.”
