Laker men ranked 12^th in Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25
Clayton State starts preseason practice on Sunday

MORROW, Ga. --- OCTOBER 12, 2006 --- For the second time in less than a week, the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball has been honored with a tremendous preseason national ranking.

After getting ranked eighth nationally in the Street & Smith Preseason Yearbook Division II Top 10 on Tuesday, Clayton State was ranked 12^th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 on Thursday. The announcement came Thursday in conjunction with the release of the 16^th annual Preseason Preview issue of the publication.

This comes as the Lakers will start preparations for the 2006-07 season on Sunday with the first preseason practice at the Athletics and Fitness Center. Clayton State opens the 2006-07 season at home on Nov. 21 against Southeastern

“The experts have tagged us with high preseason rankings and we understand what goes with the territory,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons, who is 97-49 entering his sixth season at the Laker helm. “At high level Division II basketball, rankings are a well-received honor that brings local and national mention of your program as we prepare for the season.

“Our players must continue to work hard as we now must prove up.”

Clayton State returns four starters and seven letterwinners off last season’s squad that went 21-7 and was ranked as high as 18^th in the nation in Division II. In addition, a stellar recruiting class of two Division I transfers, two Division II transfers, two junior college transfers and two true freshmen will make the Lakers a deep and talented team for the 2006-07 season.

Clayton State wasn’t the only team from the South Atlantic Region that was ranked in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25. South Atlantic Conference powers Lenoir-Rhyne is ranked 17^th and Catawba was ranked 23^rd.

The Lakers will face both Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba at the Catawba Classic on Dec. 1-2. Clayton State also has an early season road challenge at North Alabama, a home showdown against Arkansas-Monticello on New Year’s Eve and a home-and-home series against in-state rival West Georgia.

“We have a very challenging non-conference schedule that includes four excellent Division II foes on the road, “ Gibbons said. “We have to play well to live up to our billing. We are looking forward to getting started.”