Wichita State’s junior starting back court of Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker announced today that they will return to the school for their senior season.
“I spent a lot of time talking it over with Coach (Gregg Marshall), my teammates and my family,” Baker said. “The reality is, I felt like any decision I made was going to be a good one. I think I’ll eventually be successful at the next level, but with what we have coming in and the people we have returning, including Fred VanVleet, next season has the potential to be very special.”
“He said ‘I’m having a lot of fun at Wichita State,'” Van Vleet’s step-father Joe Danforth said. “I can wait until next year (for the NBA).”
VanVleet averaged 13.6 points and 5.2 assists per game while earning All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. Baker averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range.
The duo has been one of the most successful back courts in college basketball for the last three seasons. Wichita State has a 95-14 record since the two have been on campus. Van Vleet and Baker were on the team that went to the Final Four in 2013, helped lead the team to a 35-1 record last year, and led the team to the Sweet 16 this season
With their starting back court now returning, along with head coach Gregg Marshall, Wichita State is expected to be on of the top teams in college basketball next season.
