BAY CITY, Mich. – The Lake Superior State (LSSU) men's basketball program has been picked to win the conference in the 2024-25 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. The Lakers received 98 points, including 9 of the 11 first place selections. In addition, Tyson Edmondson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) has been selected to the Preseason All-GLIAC First Team while reigning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year Kingsley Perkins (Ypsilanti, Mich.) was named Preseason All-GLIAC Second Team.

"I think it goes to show the season that we ended up last year, and we have a lot of returners," said LSSU Head Coach Steve Hettinga. "It's a feather in the cap, but it means nothing. I hope they are correct at the end of the day, but it doesn't get us any wins."

The Lakers are coming off of an impressive NCAA Tournament run that came up just shy in the Sweet 16 against Ferris State, and they return nearly the entire roster from a year ago with the lone exception being the departure of Xander Okerlund to graduation. However, the slate has been wiped clean entering 2024-25, and Hettinga continues to emphasize for his team to enjoy the journey rather than focusing on the results.

"You have to be process driven rather than outcome driven," said Hettinga.

LSSU will be looking to get another strong year out of their senior trio from Ypsilanti, Mich. in 2024 First Team All-GLIAC honorees Perkins and Edmondson as well as Devin Womack. Last season, Perkins and Womack were also named to the 2024 Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team with Perkins also having been recognized as the GLIAC's Defensive Player of the Year. The talent and chemistry that they bring to the court will be important to the Lakers' goals this season.

"They know each other well, and more importantly, they know how to pick each other up," said Hettinga. "They've been playing together for the better part of seven to eight years, and it shows on the court."

The Lakers will also return starting guard/forward Hunter Soper (Lexington, Mich.) who is coming off of a breakout season of his own with 323 points, 208 rebounds, 72 assists, 30 steals, and 16 blocks after starting all 32 games last season.

In addition to an impressive group of returning players, LSSU has also added four new faces to the mix in first-year players Harrison Sorrelle (Grand Haven, Mich.), TJ Davis (Muskegon, Mich.), Karter Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.), and sophomore transfer Tyler Jamison (Port Huron, Mich.). Jamison comes to LSSU after spending his first season of college basketball at Fairleigh Dickenson, but prior to his time at FDU, he was named as the 2023 recipient of the Hal Schram Michigan Mr. Basketball Award after averaging 26.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.3 steals as a high school senior.

The Lakers are set to open their season on Saturday, Nov. 2 against Carson-Newman at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla. with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. Laker fans can also look forward to the program's home opener against Indianapolis on Friday, Nov. 15 in Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Click here for the full 2024-25 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.