Albion College

• Made collegiate debut in win over Manchester (11/10)

HIGH SCHOOL

• Earned three letters in basketball at East Lansing High School for coach Ray Mitchell
• Helped the Trojans to a combined record of 69-13 and two CAAC Blue championships during his three seasons, including a 28-1 mark and state title as a senior in 2025
• Received All-CAAC Academic honors
• Also lettered in soccer
• Member of the Honors Society and graduated with a 3.9 GPA

PERSONAL

• Son of Matt and Jenny Essell
• Has a younger brother, Nolan, and a younger sister, Hadley
• Father, Matt, played basketball at Albion and earned All-MIAA honors and later was the head boys basketball coach at Holt High School for 11 seasons
• Played AAU basketball for the Grand Rapids Storm
• Majoring in kinesiology
• Favorite athlete is LeBron James
• Lists his parents, Matt and Jenny, as his biggest influences, “because they have taught me to care for people and the importance of hard work and dedication. They have led by example with those values”
• Born on July 14, 2006 in East Lansing, Mich.