I noticed a post on Ayden Ayers before Christmas about him scoring 25 points in a Spring Lake High basketball game. And let’s be honest, 25 points for a high schooler is no small feat and certainly something you don’t see every day. So, we reached out to his mom, Cassie, to let her know he’s been nominated for Stroll’s Athlete of the Month.  It turns out that the 25-point game against Onekama was also one of his proudest moments.

Ayden Ayers is an 18-year-old senior at SLHS.  His parents are Bryon and Cassie, and he has two younger brothers, Jacob (16) and Brecken (14), who also possess a love for basketball and soccer.  The brothers share a special bond and passion for sports and the friendships they’ve accrued along the way.  Ayden and Jacob have had the rare opportunity to be on the same team for the past two years.  Jacob, now a sophomore, has been on the varsity team since his freshman year. "They absolutely love playing together as brothers and teammates," proud mom Cassie explains. Both were recognized at the Grand Haven tournament over winter break." 

Starting soccer and basketball at just age 5, Ayden progressed into participating in elite traveling teams for both sports.  He has played midfielder in soccer for most of his career, and he’s a guard in basketball.    “What I enjoy most about basketball is the build-up to the end goal,” Ayden tells Spring Lake, “Through endless practices and lots of team camaraderie, it’s so rewarding to see, for instance, how the team connects a pass to either end of the court, resulting in a basket.  I especially look forward to the Fruitport rivalry game every season.  The energy the crowd brings, and the atmosphere is unmatched!”

His favorite pro player is Donovan Mitchell, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  “He is very athletic and an elite scorer, which makes him enjoyable to watch.”  We also asked Ayden what his Final Four picks were going to be in the March Madness tourney.   “I’m thinking it’s going to come down to Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Michigan State with State taking home the National Championship.”  Being an MSU alumnus myself, I couldn’t agree more. It’s never a good bet to go count out Coach Izzo and the Spartans!  

Off the court and fields, Ayden is your normal high school teenager who enjoys hanging out with family and friends and playing video games.  Next fall, he plans to attend Hope College, where he’ll play basketball and study engineering.   We asked what advice he would give to younger kids who are interested in soccer or basketball.  “Whatever you do, just give it your all.”   Although Aydin is a natural athlete, he understands that success doesn’t just lie in any talent you might bring to the table, but more so in the discipline and consistency to put in the hard work and build a strong connection with your teammates.