Oct. 16, 2007

Allendale, Mich. - The Grand Valley State men's and women's basketball teams opened practice in preparation for the 2007-08 season Monday (Oct. 15) afternoon. The Laker men and women will both open the exhibition portion of their schedules at Michigan State November 1st and 2nd. The women will be at Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 1 for a 7 p.m. contest, while the men will travel to East Lansing for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday, Nov. 2. Both games will be played at Breslin Center.

Fourth-year head coach Ric Wesley welcomes back four starters to the mix for the 2007-08 campaign. GVSU is coming off a 29-5 season in which the Lakers claimed their first-ever NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional title and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. The Lakers are ranked third in the country by both The Sporting News College Basketball and the Division II Bulletin preseason publications. The number three ranking is the highest ranking in the history of the men's basketball program. In addition, the Sporting News tabbed senior center Callistus Eziukwu (Muskegon) as a preseason First-Team All-American, while senior guard Jason Jamerson (Muncie, Ind.) was an honorable mention all-american selection. Senior guard L.J. Kilgore (Grand Rapids) and junior forward Pete Trammell (Jenison) also return as starters.

Senior forward Nick Freer (Stevensville), an Eastern Michigan transfer, senior guard Joel Whymer (Port Huron), sophomore guard David Thompson and redshirt freshman forward, Justin Ringler (Reed City), will be expected to make significant impacts on the hardwood.

The Laker women will be under the direction of first-year head coach Janel Burgess. GVSU is ranked #24 in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 Poll. Burgess will rely on senior guards Erin Cyplik (St. Clair), Crystal Zick (Bryon Center) and Courtney Hammond (East Jordan) to provide leadership for the 2007-08 campaign. Junior forward Kim Wyngaard (Kimberly, Wis.) and sophomores, Lauren Buresh (Morely-Stanwood) and Nicole Carr (Kalamazoo) will be relied on to make significant contributions. A pair of transfers, Taylor Silas (Flushing/Missouri State) and Jocelyn Ingram (Lansing/Lamar) will also be in the mix for playing time.