Men's Basketball 10/20/2026 3:28:00 PM

Men’s Basketball Selected Second in Preseason Poll

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Lake Erie College men's basketball team was selected to finish second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday afternoon.

The Storm are coming off a 23-9 season that featured the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament berth and a runner-up finish in the G-MAC Championship game. Lake Erie garnered 106 points in the poll, just two points behind Walsh University. Both teams received five first-place votes.

"The G-MAC is a great men's basketball league full of talented rosters and well-coached programs," said 11th-year head coach Kyle Conley. "Being voted second in the preseason poll speaks to the respect our program has earned within the conference. With that being said, everyone involved with our team understands that a preseason poll doesn't mean much in March, so we have to stay focused on daily improvement and make sure we are prepared for the challenges ahead of us."

Lake Erie returns eight of its top 12 contributors from last season's team, which went 15-5 in league play and set a conference record by forcing opponents into 582 turnovers. The Storm's style of play also resulted in a conference-best scoring average of 87.8 points per game.

Senior guard Amari Williams, a first-team All-G-MAC selection, headlines the group of returners after averaging 14.5 points and 3.1 assists per game last season while recording nine games with 20 or more points.

"Amari is a tremendously hard worker and has only gotten better throughout the summer," Conley noted. "I expect him to be the leader of the team, and he has the potential to be one of the best players in the country."

Williams, the only returning player in the conference who earned a spot on the 2025-26 All-G-MAC First Team, will have additional support from fellow seniors Caelum Ethridge and Gio Moore. Both were double-digit scorers last season and will look to establish themselves as all-conference players this year.

With the Storm's run-and-gun style of play, several other players will have opportunities to make meaningful contributions. Senior Rokas Castillo recorded 36 steals last season, while his sophomore brother, Alanas Castillo, looks to build on a strong freshman campaign in the system. Senior Aidan Filippini brings valuable experience to the backcourt alongside junior Griffin Turay, with the pair combining for 93 games played. Sophomore Riley Cervenka has impressed throughout camp and is in line for increased minutes this season.

Additionally, the Storm welcomed transfers Jamyier Patton (Texas A&M International), Keishawn Morris (SUNY-Orange Community College) and Ryan Rodriquez (Northern Oklahoma College). All three have shown in practice that they have the potential to play significant roles in the rotation.

Lake Erie opens the season with three games at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic, beginning Oct. 30 against Winona State University at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Storm will be tested on the road early, with five of their first six games away from the Osborne Center. Their home opener is scheduled for Nov. 9 against Penn State Du Bois. G-MAC play begins Dec. 5 at home against Malone University.

Fans can watch all G-MAC games live on FloCollege.

2026-27 Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
1.Walsh University – 108 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Lake Erie College – 106 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Ashland University – 97 points (1 first-place vote)
4. University of Findlay – 93 points
5. Kentucky Wesleyan College – 82 points (1 first-place vote)
6. Hillsdale College – 76 points
7. Northwood University – 63 points
8. Thomas More University – 53 points
9. Cedarville University – 50 points
10. Malone University – 27 points
11. Tiffin University – 21 points

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Players Mentioned

#24 Aidan Filippini: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#34 Gio Moore: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#4 Griffin Turay: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#12 Alanas Castillo: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

#5 Rokas Castillo: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#1 Riley Cervenka: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#21 Caelum Ethridge: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#11 Amari Williams: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#2 Keishawn Morris: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#0 Jamyier Patton: G; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#24 Aidan Filippini
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#34 Gio Moore
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#4 Griffin Turay
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#12 Alanas Castillo
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F

#5 Rokas Castillo
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#1 Riley Cervenka
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#21 Caelum Ethridge
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#11 Amari Williams
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#2 Keishawn Morris
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#0 Jamyier Patton
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G