The Great Plains Athletic Conference contains 5 Iowa NAIA teams with key former Iowa High School players on their squads this year. This level of NAIA basketball is very strong as evidenced by how the transfer portal is grabbing players who excel in the GPAC- see Luke Lorenzen star from Dordt last year moving to Division 1 Western Illinois this fall.
The Northwestern College men’s basketball team has been picked to the top spot of the GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the 2025-26 season.
This year’s Raiders team, is led by first-year head coach Colton Kooima (a former NW Raider NAIA All American basketball player). Northwestern College returns Jesse Van Kalsbeek, the reigning GPAC Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-GPAC honoree – 6’6″ Sophomore MOC Floyd Valley, IA. Also returning starter Kaleb Booth a 6’0″ Senior Carroll, IA was recognized with an Honorable Mention All-GPAC designation, highlighting the top former Iowa High School returning starters from last year’s lineup.
The Raiders received the top spot in the GPAC preseason poll, and Northwestern has recorded six consecutive 20+-win seasons, with its last GPAC regular season title coming in the 2023-24 season.
Morningside College men’s basketball team was picked second in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Mustangs went 25-8 overall and 14-6 in GPAC play last season, capturing the conference tournament title with wins over Dakota Wesleyan, Dordt and Concordia. Morningside also defeated Hope International in the NAIA Opening Round before falling to Bethel in the Round of 32.
Dordt is picked third in the preseason poll. The Defenders are coming off a stellar 28-4 where they reached the NAIA Championship second round. Their 2025 full roster is not updated but their leading scorer Luke Lorenzen from Okoboji, IA moved up to Division 1 this year at Western Illinois and will be difficult to replace.
Briar Cliff Senior Wil Lugar Cherokee, IA returns after averaging 7.3 points per game to go along with 4.6 rebounds, while shooting 53.5% from the field. The Briar Cliff men’s basketball team was selected 6th in the GPAC Preseason Poll early Thursday morning. The Chargers posted a 14-15 record (9-11 GPAC) last season.
Waldorf is picked last in the preseason poll coming off a 3-24 season and trying to build their program this season.
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