POWERS---One of the most successful high school athletes in the Upper Peninsula decided on Thursday where he will go to college. On Friday, he made it official.

North Central High School senior Jason Whitens has committed to play basketball at Western Michigan University. He told everyone in a Twitter message on Thursday, and he signed a National Letter of Intent Friday afternoon at the school in Powers.
 

"It feels great," Whitens said. "It's been a long process, since my sophomore year when I first started getting heavily recruited. I've dreamt of this moment. I wouldn't want it any other way, with the community I have around, my family, my guys (teammates), it doesn't feel much better than this. I'm ready for that next step."

Whitens led the NCA Jets to three Class D state championships in basketball, as well as a pair of Eight-Player football state championships. Whitens was heavily recruited by schools of all sizes, and he had workouts with several NCAA-I and NCAA-II schools.

Northern Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Lake Superior State all gave Whitens offers, as did North Dakota State. But Whitens said the moment that he stepped onto the WMU campus in Kalamazoo, he knew that is where he wanted to go.

"It's all about 'fit'," Whitens said. "The coaches. The atmosphere. Just being where I am, and being happy, and being satisfied with 'I know that I can play here'. I felt home to me, just like I was in the U.P. That goes a long way with me."

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to listen to the five-minute question and answer session, plus interviews with Whitens and his father, Gerald. Also, check out photos from the event.