Estherville, IA — The Iowa Lakes Men's Basketball team debuted at No. 14 in the 2022-23 Preseason National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Men's Basketball Rankings. The Lakers are one of four Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) teams ranked joining #9 DMACC, # 17 Ellsworth, and #18 Kirkwood. Defending National Champion South Suburban is ranked # 1.
The Lakers are coming off a season in which they finished the season with a 21 – 10 overall record and 11 – 5 in the highly competitive ICCAC. The Lakers return 3 key contributors from last year's team including Jeremiah Burke (8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game), Anthony Holden (7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game), and Oz Meiborg (5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game). The Lakers have also added 2 NJCAA Division 1 transfers from New Mexico Military Institute in Isaiah Williams (12 points and 3 rebounds per game), and Amiri Crowder (5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2 assist per game). The Lakers have also added former Spirit Lake standout Creighton Morisch. Morisch was at NAIA Morning Side in Sioux City last season.
Iowa Lakes will open the regular season by playing Independence Community College in the Indian Hills classic in Ottumwa, IA on November 4th at 5:00pm. Their first home contest will be Monday, November 7th vs Dordt University JV. Tip for that fame will be at 7:30pm.
Iowa Lakes is coached by Troy Larson who is entering his 16th season as head coach of the Lakers and has an overall record of 321 – 151. Larson has coached the Lakers to two national tournament appearances (2012 – 2013 season, 2020-2021 season), four regional tournament final appearances (2013, 2014, 2016, 2021), and two ICCAC regular season championships (2013, 2016).
Preseason NJCAA Poll: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/rankings/DII/index
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Men's Basketball Coach Troy Larson at (712) 362-7915 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.