Lakeland Basketball Star Continues Success at Saginaw Valley State University

Michael Fugate, a 2009 graduate, had an amazing career as a student athlete in high school, and has continued that career at Saginaw Valley State University. At Lakeland, he was the Kensington Valley Conference basketball player of the year and is the all time leading scorer. He helped his team to a district championship and was first team all-lakes area and was honored as number 34 on the boys top 100 by the Detroit Free Press. Fugate was also a member of the National Honor Society and was in the top ten of his class.

Fugate said he credits his success to working hard day in and day out. He is a junior at Saginaw Valley, majoring in electrical engineering, where he is also the starting point guard averaging 10.6 points per game and shooting an astounding 80 percent from the free throw line.

A number of coaches and teachers have made a big impact on Fugate’s career both on the basketball court and in the classroom, he said.

According to his high school basketball coach, Bob Brugger, Fugate was a coach’s dream. 

“He is the best player and the hardest worker I have ever coached," Brugger said. "The foundation for his current success was set in place with his work ethic over the past 10 years. Michael was willing to sacrifice and commit to making himself the best basketball player he could be. I am so proud to say I had the opportunity to coach Michael, one of the best basketball players to ever play at Lakeland High School.”

Brad Farquhar is one of his former teachers at Lakeland. 

"As Michael's teacher and strength and conditioning coach from 8th - 12th grade, I can say, unequivocally, that Michael is a classic example of getting everything you deserve," Farquhar said. "At LHS, he worked hard in school (nearly all A's), worked his tail off in the weight room and made good choices off the court."

Earlier this month, Fugate took a break from his busy schedule to answer a series of questions about his success as a student athlete at SVSU: 

White Lake Patch: What was the biggest thing you learned in high school that has contributed to your success at Saginaw Valley State University?

Fugate: Time management would have to be the biggest thing I learned. Being able to balance all the work in the classroom and on the court is something I learned in high school, and I’m thankful I didn’t have to wait until college to learn it.

White Lake Patch: What did Coach Brugger teach you that has made a difference for you academically and athletically?

Fugate: Coach Brugger helped make me the basketball player I am today. I took everything he said to heart, and really focused on what he taught. From positioning on defense to post moves, there wasn’t anything he didn’t help me with. I always credit him, my dad, and Coach Farquhar for making it possible for me to play in college.

White Lake Patch: What classroom teacher made the biggest impact on you at Lakeland High School?

Fugate: Mr. Braden made the biggest impact on me. His class was the most challenging one I took at Lakeland, but I was able to learn so much. His teaching method was very visual, and he knew how to break down questions so everyone could understand. Mr. Braden was a great guy who you could talk to outside of the classroom. I was disappointed he retired before my brother could take his class because I thought he made that big of an impact on his students.

White Lake Patch: What impact has participating in sports had on your success at a student?
 
Fugate: Sports teaches you discipline on the court which I’ve been able to carry into the classroom. To be a good player on the court, time must be put in to get there. In turn, to be a good student studying is extremely important.

White Lake Patch: How do you balance academics and athletics?

Fugate: Learning how to manage my time has been the most important aspect of college. It has been a process. My freshman year I spent too much time on school work and became stressed. The last two years I’ve balanced both pretty well. My fiancee has helped me take my mind off both when I start to become overwhelmed.

White Lake Patch: How much time do you spend on academics and sports each week?

Fugate: I have about a two-and-a-half hour practice every day and 12-15 credits of class to squeeze into Monday-Thursday. Then with getting in the gym to get extra shots up and with studying for classes, there are a ton of hours in the week spent on both.

White Lake Patch: Where do you see yourself in the next four years?

Fugate: I see myself graduated, married to my fiancee this summer, and hopefully involved in coaching at some level. I would love to become a college basketball coach, so after college I would like to follow that path and see where it takes me. My fiancee and I would love to stay close to our families, so how far away we go could be limited.

White Lake Patch: How will the experiences of being on the Saginaw Valley State University basketball team impact the rest of your life?

Fugate: My experience with Saginaw Valley University has made me a stronger person mentally. My freshman year was tough on me, and being able to push through it and stay focused taught me I can handle anything.
 
White Lake Patch: What advice do you have for today's high school student athlete?

Fugate: I see too many times athletes come into college that didn’t take high school academics seriously, and then have to learn study habits their freshmen year. Besides putting time, every day, into their sport, a student athlete wanting to play at the next level must study and take school seriously.