Spartans Add Four to Roster on 2023-24 Signing Day

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's golf head coach Casey Lubahn announced the signing of four student-athletes to the 2023-24 academic year. Joseph Cantiano, Julian Menser, Drew Miller and Juan Carlos Velasquez Pedroza have all signed National Letters of Intent to join the Spartans for next fall.

"The 2024 Spartan Golf signees are part of a landmark class for us," Lubahn said. "These are four incredible young men from great families who have already achieved at a very high level. On top of that, I don't know if I've had a class in my career this is more focused on how they get better as they get close to college golf. They are tough and not afraid to push past their comfort zone in the process of becoming champions, and they have already started the bonding process as teammates. They will excel in the classroom, on the golf course, and in this community.

"I want to thank and commend Coach Kurmel and everyone involved with Spartan Golf for helping us show these four outstanding young men how MSU can help them improve and I am honored they have chosen us to take the next steps in their development."

Joseph Canitano, Milton, Ga. / Rivers Academy
A three-time National Champion as Rivers Academy won the National High School Golf Association titles (2022, 2023) … Team captain this year as a senior … A two-time state champion in Georgia (2022, 2023) … A two-time Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) All-State Team selection (2022-23) … A two-time GISA All-Region selection (2022-23) Tied for 10th place at the Future Masters … Coached by Charlie Anderson at Rivers Academy … His father, Anthony, played golf at Miami University in Ohio and Case Western Reserve (1993-95).

Lubahn on Canitano…
"We are proud to welcome Joe and his family to Spartan Golf. He is an exceptional young man who has competed at the highest level as a junior and high school player. He comes from a proud golf family and he lives, eats and breathes the game. He is consistent in his ball striking and impressed me so much with his understanding of short game and wedge mechanics. He knows that his key to success will be in the details, and no one will work harder than him to master the countless little things that great players do. Most importantly, he is a young man of exemplary character, integrity and class."

Julian Menser, Novi, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central
Selected to the Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Boys Super Team in 2023 … Nominated for the 2023 Golfer of the Year at the Detroit High School Sports Awards … First team all-league three times (2021-23) … Nominated for Scholar Athlete of the Year 2023-24 … Helped lead Detroit Catholic Central to Division I Regional Championship in 2022 and 2023 … Part of the 2022 Division I State Championship team and two-time Division I Catholic League Champions (2022 and 2023) … 2023 Medalist in the Catholic League Championship and Regional Championship … Tied for first place (lost in playoff) at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Coca-Cola Jr. Championship, shooting an 8-under par (73-68-67) … Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) Class Rank of 115 and No. 3 in the state and AJGA Rolex Ranking of 109 … Coached by Mike Anderson at Detroit Catholic Central and swing coach Brian Cairns … His father, Scott, played basketball at Luther College (1994-95) and Adrian College (1995-96) in Michigan.

Lubahn on Menser…
"Julian is one of the fastest rising players in junior golf, having only committed himself to the game in recent years. He played at the same program in high school as James Piot and was coached by two of the best in our state, Mike Anderson and Brian Cairns. He has already proven he can compete with the best in his summer and high school action and we look forward to watching his upward trend continue throughout his college career. He was destined to be a Spartan and I know he will carry our tradition proudly while helping us win on the golf course and in the classroom."

Drew Miller, East Lansing, Mich. / East Lansing
The 2022 Michigan Junior Player of the Year … Selected to the 2022 Michigan All-State Golf Dream Team … 2022 Michigan Junior stroke play champion and Michigan Junior Invitational Champion … The runner-up at the 2022 and 2023 Division I state finals … As a sophomore at East Lansing High School, he posted 15 top-five finishes in 15 events, including seven in first place … Ranked No. 2 in the Michigan High School Athletic Association in 2022 with a 9-hole scoring average of 35.7 … No. 3 in all divisions with a 72.1 scoring average for 18 holes … A two-time participant in the U.S. Junior Amateur (2021 and 2022) … Played in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball … Ranked No. 129 overall by the Junior Golf Scoreboard … Posted five top-10 finishes on the American Junior Golf Association Tour … Coached by Vic Whipp … Miller's father, Kevin, played college golf at Toledo … His grandfather, Doug Miller, played basketball (1961), football (1961-62) and baseball (1961-64) at Michigan State.

Lubahn on Miller…
"Drew has been a Spartan since birth and we are so proud he decided to stay in East Lansing and help us carry this program to the next level. He is an elite player who works as hard as any prospect I have watched in my career. His deep roots to MSU mean he will take it personal and he will be a profound leader in the locker room. While his competitive record and national ranking have been as high as anyone we have signed, I know it's just the beginning for this extreme talent and high character young man. He is obsessive about getting better and winning – two things he will help us accomplish upon his arrival."

Juan Carlos Velasquez Pedroza, Floridablanca, Colombia / Colegio Nuevo Cambridge
The winner of the 2023 National Junior Championship Campeonato Nacional DJCG "Copa Mariajo Uribe" and "Torneo Internacional Infantil Y Juvenil Cartagena" … Won the 2022 National Junior Championship … Member of the international team at the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup … A member of the Colombian team for the South American Junior Championship in 2022 and 2023 … Also played with Colombia at the South American Team Championship "Copa Los Andes" in 2022 and 2023 … A tremendous student who earned the Golden Cambridge Nomination for high school in 2022 and 2023 at Colegio Nuevo Cambridge … From the same hometown as former Spartan women's golfer Valery Plata.

Lubahn on Valasquez Pedroza…
"Juan Carlos is a prodigious talent and incredibly well taught. His international record is truly elite, highlighted by his finish in the 2022 Latin American Amateur and his multitude of wins in junior and amateur golf in South America. His WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) has been one of the highest from a junior player I've recruited and I'm so proud he is following in the footsteps of the other great South Americans who have chosen MSU for their college golf. He is a brilliant student and detail focused in everything he does. We are so excited for him to call East Lansing home next fall."

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