Logan Ellyson	Brady Swanson

Ellyson, a native of Cardington, Ohio, has been a four-year student assistant for MVNU and helped out in numerous ways for the team. He is a former three-sport athlete at Gilead Christian High School. A Physical Education major, he has posted a 3.74 grade point average in the classroom.

"Many people don't understand the role that Logan plays on our team,” said MVNU coach Matt Moore. "He is without question our MVP – Most Valuable Part. He works endlessly at doing whatever the team needs and has the same fire inside as each of the players after a great victory or devastating loss. A few years ago, he was critically injured in an auto accident, which very well should have taken his life. Through his patience and desire to fight, he took the long road back to being able to walk all the while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. This kid is tough. He has been like an assistant coach these past two years and has always had good insight about the game of basketball.”

Swanson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is wrapping up his second season with the Cougars after playing four years for the MVNU men's soccer team. The former Mount Vernon High School product has averaged 3.7 points while playing in 47 games the past two seasons. This year, Swanson has played in all 29 games with nine starts and is averaging 4.2 points and is third on the team with 51 assists. He has posted a 3.83 grade point average as a Spanish Education and Physical Education double major. He was an NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete last year and is up for those honors again this season.

"It only took one day of me watching Brady play in open gym to know that once his soccer days were over that he would be able to help our team,” said Moore. "What he has done the past year and a half is something that I don't think many people grasp because it takes a very special talent. Prior to last December, he had not played competitive basketball since his senior year of high school and within three weeks of joining the team he was our starting point guard. It is a testament to his character and drive to excel at whatever he pursues. I have said before that if there is a competition Brady would win it regardless if it were playing ping pong or making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – he is a winner. His quiet demeanor is something I appreciate because I know deep inside there is a fire not just for competition but for the Lord as well.”

Adam Grimm	Brandon Short

Grimm, a 6-foot-7 forward from Titusville, Fla., has played in 92 games over the past four years. The former St. Thomas Aquinas High School graduate has scored 650 points (7.1 ppg) and grabbed 320 rebounds during his career while blocking 25 shots. This season, he is averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting a team-best 54.7 percent from the field (116-for-212). He is also shooting 63 percent from the free throw line (87-for-138) and has played in 28 games with 23 starts.

"Adam was the first player I met on the team when I came to visit MVNU three years ago,” said Moore. "He had just gotten up from a nap and was staggering around the cafeteria. He has come the furthest of anyone over the past two years in his willingness to be a part of the bigger picture and that is in direct relation to the support around him. He is one of the most misunderstood players on our team due to the fact that he is extremely quiet. He has a heart of compassion, a goofy sense of humor, and deep inside a desire to please others that we have been blessed to see more of this season. He really has been willing to be coached, pushed, stretched, and taught.”

Short, a 6-foot-1 guard from Orrville, Ohio, has played in 118 games over the past four years. The former Orrville High School star ranks 23rd in school history with 1,213 career points (10.3 ppg) and seventh in both career steals (199) and career free throws made (304). In addition, he has grabbed 453 rebounds and dished out 323 assists. This year, Short leads the team in scoring (14.4 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg), assists (117), and is second in steals (51). He was named the AMC South Division Freshman of the Year in 2008 and selected to the AMC Second Team last year. He also posted only the third triple-double in school history earlier this season at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

"Brandon will be a tough player to replace,” said Moore. "He is asked to do so much for our team in regards to offense and defense and beyond and he always accepts the challenge. The thing that we will miss the most about Brandon, though, is his smile and light-hearted approach to the game. He has a good balance of competitive spirit and a joy for being with his teammates. It has been refreshing at times to sit back and let him do what he does on the court and just say ‘wow'. Brandon will be successful because he has the ability to think outside the box and adapt to the situation at hand.”