Catholic Central star switches his commitment to a Division I college
Zay Larthridge of Grand Rapids Catholic Central shoots a jump shot at the Division 2 state semifinals at The Breslin Center on Friday, March 14, 2025. He will play at Northern Illinois next year. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Zay Larthridge went from missing an entire season to landing at a Division I basketball program.
The senior at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School has switched his college commitment to Northern Illinois University, a Division I program outside of Chicago.
“I was committed to Northern Michigan,” Larthridge said. “But my coach got the new job at NIU. He told me before that he’d take me wherever he goes.”
Matt Majkrzak was the coach at Northern Michigan, a Division II program in the Upper Peninsula, from 2019 until this season. But then he left to take the job at NIU earlier this month.
“He called me a week ago and I went there this weekend for a visit,” Larthridge said on Sunday. “It was great. I loved it. Everything about it … it’s a lot better than Northern Michigan. The facilities are nicer.”
Larthridge, a 6-foot-6, 212-pound shooting guard, missed the entire high school season after tearing the ACL in his left knee last summer.
Now he’s a Division I player despite of the injury.
“It’s a blessing,” Larthridge said. “I’m super blessed to get this opportunity, especially considering I only played one full year of high school basketball (with injuries and limited playing time freshman year).”
Is he surprised he went from Division II to Division I?
“To be honest, I’m not shocked,” Larthridge said. “My coach told me I’m supposed to be a DI player. He didn’t think he’d get me in the first place. But then I got hurt and things changed.”
Larthridge still isn’t in game shape. But he should be by summer.
“I have about two more months until I can play and scrimmage,” he said. “Right now I’m just training. I can do just about anything but play.”
Northern Illinois was 9-21 in the Mid-American Conference this season, which was last in the conference. NIU will move to the Horizon League starting in the fall.
From left, Collin Lott, Zay Larthridge and Tommy Jandernoa of Grand Rapids Catholic Central sit on the sidelines during a scrimmage on Nov. 20, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).