2014-15 All-GLIAC Men's Basketball Release

A pair of Grand Valley State upperclassmen were voted to the 2014-15 All-GLIAC Men's Basketball Team, released by the league office on Monday afternoon (Mar. 2). Senior guard Ryan Sabin and junior forward Ricardo Carbajal were each voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team, while Sabin also picked up GLIAC All-Defensive Team honors.
 
The conference named 10 players to the All-GLIAC First Team and 10 more to the Second Team, regardless of North or South Division. A total of 10 players earned All-Defensive Team plaudits. Honorees were selected by the GLIAC head coaches.
 
Sabin earned All-GLIAC honors for the third time in his illustrious career, having been a First Team recipient in 2013-14 and a Second Team honoree in 2012-13. He is one of just nine GVSU players in school history to be a three-time All-GLIAC selection and one of only seven Lakers to be a three-time First or Second Team honoree.
 
The last player to be a three-time All-GLIAC selection for the Lakers was Justin Ringler (2006-11). Also joining Sabin and Ringler on that list are Jason Jamerson, Callistus Eziukwu, John Flynn, Kent Wiersma, Randy Parlor, Paul Peterman, and Sid Bruinsma.
 
GVSU's only player to start in all 28 games, Sabin averaged 13.4 points per game (second-best on the team) and led the Lakers in minutes per game (34.3), three-pointers (40), and free throw percentage (89.4). He also dished out 53 assists, second-most on the team.
 
Sabin's 89.4 free throw percentage this season nearly set a school record, trailing only Chris Raven's 89.5 mark in 1978-79. For his career, Sabin shot an extraordinary 85.1 percent at the line, the best figure in GVSU history. That career mark was increased by Sabin knocking down 42 consecutive free throws this season, also a new school record.
 
He led the GLIAC in free throw percentage this season, played the second-most minutes (960) of any player in the league, and finished in the top-20 in free throws made (84), field goals made (126), points per game, and defensive rebounds (101).
 
A great outside shooter as well, Sabin finished fourth in Laker history with 186 career three-pointers and his 1,218 points put him in 21st place all-time at Grand Valley State. Only one player in GVSU history (Jeremy Fife from 1996-99) played more minutes per game (31.6) than Sabin's 31.4 career minutes per game average.
 
For the second time, Sabin was an All-Defensive Team choice, having also earned that honor in 2012-13. He is one of just 10 Lakers to be voted to the All-Defensive Team at least twice, joining Tyrone Lee, Ringler, Pete Trammell, Eziukwu, Courtney James, Micah Bell, Jeremy Fife, Mike Davis, and Todd Brower.
 
Carbajal earns his first conference honor and posted a great offensive season, leading GVSU in scoring (13.6 points per game), rebounding (6.7 boards), and field goal percentage (49.1). He was also the team leader in steals (48) and free throws made (104) and attempted (141).
 
Those 48 steals were the fifth-most of any player in the league and the four players ahead of Carbajal on the list are all guards. The 6'6" forward, Carbajal's 104 free throws were also fifth-best in the GLIAC and he was tremendous on the glass all season.
 
Carbajal ranked sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds (60), seventh in rebounds per game and total boards (186), and eighth in defensive rebounds (126). He also was 11th in the GLIAC in points (380) and made field goals (136), while his 49.3 field goal percentage placed him 14th.
 
Michigan Tech senior guard Ben Stelzer - the league's Preseason Player of the Year - followed up on that prediction by winning the GLIAC Player of the Year award. Malone guard Ben Haraway was tabbed the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, while Lake Superior State's Steve Hettinga earned GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.