With his sixth and final season coming to an end, senior forward Mykel Bingham highlighted memorable moments in his career and looks forward to the next chapter of his life.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich, Bingham looked up to his family and they helped him develop a love for basketball. His older brother Marcus, who played collegiate basketball at Michigan State from 2018 to 2022, was one of his influences who started his passion for the game.
Bingham played high school basketball at Grand Rapids Central High School. During his senior year, he led his team to a 19-3 overall record and earned Grand Rapids Press Dream Team accolades. He averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots per game and helped the Cougars reach their fourth consecutive league championship and a berth in the Class B District Championship game.
Bingham talked about how he got into basketball.
“I’d say I really gained a passion for it probably at the beginning of high school,” Bingham said. “My mom played in the past, and my brother took it seriously. With me being as tall as I am, I just stuck with it and made something out of it.”
Bingham was recruited by former head coach Andy Bronkema, who ended up leaving Ferris after Bingham’s fifth year to coach at Central Michigan, and was replaced by interim head coach Alex Fodness. Bingham was on his way to an AAU tournament when Bronkema called him and gave him an offer.
While Bingham did receive offers from other GLIAC schools like Saginaw Valley and Davenport, he chose Ferris so he could stay close to home.
During the 2023-24 season, Bingham missed the entirety of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot.
Bingham talked about what that season taught him.
“The season I missed made me learn,” Bingham said. “It hurt watching everybody playing, and I just had to sit on the sideline. That’s not a good feeling. But then again, when you’re in that situation, you just have to learn from it and pick up tools you’d never think to be using in the future. That kind of helped me where I am now and helped me become a leader for this team. I’ve stepped into that role that was hard for me in the past.”
Recovering from his injury, Bingham has done all that he could to step up as a player. This season, he is averaging 32 minutes per game and 13 points per game, which are both career highs. He’s also leading the GLIAC in rebounding with 8.7 rebounds per game.
Fodness talked about what it’s been like to coach a player who has improved and contributed so much on both ends of the floor.
“He’s really turned himself into a complete player,” Fodness said. “I think some of that development has to come from this year just being asked to do a little bit more than he’s maybe been asked to do in previous years. It’s been great seeing him develop. He’s become a really important player for us, and it’s been pretty cool to see him now in his sixth year grow into the player that he’s become.”
In addition to his points and rebounds, in conference play, Bingham is averaging a block and a steal per game. On Monday, Feb. 23, he was rewarded the GLIAC defensive player of the week.
Bingham’s younger brother, Mahki Barner, talked about what it’s been like for him to watch his older brother play basketball and develop a passion for it.
“It’s meant everything,” Barner said. “I look up to Mykel. That’s my older brother. Every time I see him go out there, see him play, and see him do what he loves to do, it makes me happy.”
Barner has really enjoyed seeing his older brother thrive on both ends of the floor and become a leader for the team.
“He’s healthy now,” Barner said. “He’s also bigger and stronger. He has always been a leader. Everybody always looks up to Mykel. He has a lot of heart, and so for him to be a team leader means a lot to him.”
After the conclusion of his sixth and final season with the Bulldogs, Bingham hopes to play overseas. He not only wants to continue playing the sport he loves but he also wants to see the world.