In his fourth year donning the Goshen College uniform, Errick McCollum II, a senior guard, put together an incredible season. After a total of 31 games in his senior season, he averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3 assists per contest. All of this accumulated into his being named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) First Team All American, as well as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) player of the year.

Along with his talent on the court, McCollum stood out for various other qualities.

Bryce Bow, former teammate and assistant coach, has seen McCollum develop over the last few years.

“I think Errick is a prime example of what it means to be a student athlete at this level,” said Bow. “Very few people know, but ‘E’ had the highest GPA on our team last semester. He’s a role model in every sense of the word and really deserves every accolade he’s got this year.”

His leadership skills were felt by all members of the basketball team, from incoming first-years to longtime friends.

Freshman teammate Kyle Davis recognized McCollum’s influence.

“He was a leader who led by example and helped me and Casey [Pratt, classmate of Davis] become better point guards,” Davis said. “He was a hard worker who helped us become better.”

Teammate and roommate Carl Steen agreed.

“He is an all around great athlete and a leader,” Steen said. “He makes us want to get better and work harder.”

Head Coach Gary Chupp said McCollum’s leadership is what made this year special.

“Errick has always put up big numbers throughout his career at Goshen,” said Chupp, “but what made this year stand out was the leadership he brought to our team. He had an unbelievable influence on our younger players, in terms of modeling the work ethic needed to succeed both on the court and in the classroom.”

During this last season, McCollum broke both the single season and career scoring record at Goshen. He is the first Maple Leaf to be named MCC player of year, as well as the first to have an ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 play.

“E’s influence on our program will be felt long after he has graduated,” said Coach Chupp.