Holland Reporter

The Grand Valley State men's basketball team is preparing to start the 2024-25 season with an exhibition match against Toledo on Saturday, October 18. The game will begin at 2:00 pm at Savage Arena, and entry is free for all attendees.

GVSU's lineup includes six of their top eight scorers from the previous season, with three players who averaged double figures in scoring. Returning All-GLIAC players Ethan Alderink and William Dunn are among them. Last season, Alderink scored an average of 11.5 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48.5%, while Dunn achieved an average of 11.2 points per game, shooting 48.8% from the field and hitting 46% from beyond the arc.

Point guards Mason Docks and Trevor Smith Jr., recognized for their defensive prowess last season with All-GLIAC honors, are also returning. Docks averaged ten points per game and led GVSU in steals with a total of 35. Smith Jr. was the team's leader in assists with 102 and ranked third in steals with 31. Jalen Charity will be back as well after starting in all but one of GVSU's games last season.

The Lakers have added new talent through transfers this year. Sophomore guard Kaden Brown joins from Wright State, while junior forward Daivion Boleware arrives after two seasons at Glen Oaks Community College, where he excelled as an all-conference player averaging a double-double with 20.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Toledo enters the exhibition having secured four consecutive MAC regular-season championships—the only program in the MAC to do so outright during that period. The Rockets return two starters from last year's squad: Javan Simmons, who earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors by averaging 12.2 points and five rebounds; and Sonny Wilson, who made the MAC All-Freshman team by averaging eight points and two rebounds.