LaGrange is third in the 2022-23 Collegiate Conference of the South Men's Basketball Coaches' poll released by the conference today.
Maryville is first in the poll with 36 points and six first place votes. Piedmont is second with 29 points and a first place vote. The Panthers followed with 25 points. Berea (18), Covenant (15), Huntingdon (14), and Belhaven (10) rounded out the rest of the poll.
LC went 16-11 last season and won a share of the USA South West Division title. The Panthers defeated Maryville in the USA South Tournament before losing in two overtimes in the semifinals to eventual tournament champion Averett.
Coach Kendal Wallace is starting his 12th season leading the Panthers. He has a 157-125 record at LC. During Wallace's tenure, the Panthers have either won a regular season championship, a conference tournament championship, or received an at-large selection to the NCAA tournament in six of his 11 seasons as the head coach.
"We are very excited for this first-ever men's basketball season in the CCS," Wallace said. "Our guys have been working hard in the preseason and practices up to this point and I see leadership sprinkled throughout the returners. It will be hard to replace Kyle Brown from last year's squad but I'm enthusiastic that each player that is called upon will do their job to the best of their ability."
The Panthers return five of their top six scorers for the 2022-23 season. Fifth-year senior guard Bershard Edwards was a USA South West Division first team selection. He was second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game. Edwards led the team in minutes played (981), and free throw percentage (84.8, 39-of-46). He led the team and the USA South with 108 assists. Edwards was second on the team in 3-point shots made (41) and tied for second in steals (34).
Senior forward Zac Hill was third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game and second in rebounding, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. Hill tied for second on the team with 34 steals and was second with 16 blocks.
Junior forward Cooper Dolhancyk played in all 27 games last season with 10 starts. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Junior guard Camerin Lyons averaged 7.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He doled out 68 assists and had 27 steals. Junior guard Gabe Cofield started the final 20 games last season. He averaged 7.2 points per game and led the team with 46 3-pointers.
"Along with the guys mentioned above, Kyle Smith, Tayshawn Pendleton and Isaiah Oden are sophomores who I believe will impact our success," Wallace pointed out. "I am also very pleased with many of our freshmen. It should be a very exciting year for the Panthers!"
The Panthers open the 2022-23 season at the Huntingdon Classic on Nov. 12 against Berry.
2022-23 CCS Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll
