ALLENDALE—Chinedu Kingsley Okanu was named to the GLIAC Preseason Second Team as the GLIAC announced preseason polls and awards on Monday.
 
The Northern Illinois transfer was the lone Laker to receive preseason accolades and the Lakers were picked to finish sixth in the GLIAC this season.
 
Okanu leads a roster filled with new faces. The Lakers roster has nine new faces including three transfer students and six true freshman.
 
Okanu averaged 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season at Northern Illinois. Okanu saw action in 28 games including one start for the Huskies. In the GVSU exhibition season, Okanu averaged 11.67 points and 6.33 rebounds. He put up 17 points against Michigan State in the Lakers' last outing.
 
Last season, the Lakers finished the season in a tie for fifth place and went into the GLIAC Tournament as the fifth seed. Ahead of the 2022-23 season, the GLIAC coaches predict the Lakers to drop one spot to sixth.
 
Ferris State, the defending regular season GLIAC champions, were picked to finish atop the league once again this season. The Bulldogs received six first place votes. Northern Michigan got two first place votes, and Lake Superior State and Michigan Tech also earned one first place vote.
 
The Lakers open their season on Friday with a matchup against Southwest Baptist in the Robert Garrett Crossover Classic hosted by Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. on Friday.
 
2022-23 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
Team                                     Points (first place votes)
1. Ferris State                        78 (6)
2. Northern Michigan             68 (2)
3. Lake Superior State           55 (1)
4. Michigan Tech                    52 (1)
5. Davenport                           50
6. Grand Valley State            39
7. Saginaw Valley State          36
8. Parkside                              34
9. Wayne State                        20
10. Purdue Northwest             17


2022-23 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Teams
First Team
Anthony Barnard, Purdue Northwest
Kemon Bassett, Lake Superior State
Max Bjorklund, Northern Michigan
Adam Hobson, Michigan Tech
Marcedus Leech Jr., Davenport
 
Second Team
Ben Davidson, Ferris State
Avery Lewis, Wayne State
Kingsley Okanu, Grand Valley State
Solomon Oraegbu, Ferris State
Jamir Simpson, Parkside
 
2022-23 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Max Bjorklund, Northern Michigan