BAY CITY, Mich. — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, with Parkside picked to finish third. The Rangers trail only Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan in the rankings, as they look to build on another strong campaign under head coach Luke Reigel.
Parkside returns two of the most experienced and talented players in the GLIAC, led by two First Team All-GLIAC honorees from a season ago — Josiah Palmer and Jack Rose.
Palmer, a senior guard, led the GLIAC in assists last season at 4.2 per game and has been a model of consistency for the Rangers, averaging double figures in each of his last three seasons. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with 16.1 points per game and currently ranks 15th in program history with 1,284 career points.
Rose, entering his junior season, enjoyed a breakout year last season, averaging 15.8 points per game while establishing himself as one of the conference's top perimeter threats. Together, Palmer and Rose form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the GLIAC.
The Rangers also bring back several key contributors from last year's rotation, including Ethan Ivan, Fawaz Surakat, and Matas Castillo, each of whom appeared in 25 or more games and averaged over 17 minutes per contest.
In addition to a strong returning core, Parkside welcomes an impressive group of newcomers expected to make an immediate impact. Paxton Warden, a transfer from Lewis University, was a Second Team All-GLVC selection last season after averaging 14.2 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting. The Rangers also add Luka Mateski (McKendree), who averaged 10.1 points per game, along with Braden McGlothlin and Raphael Nagau-Trouart.
The incoming freshman class — Logan Zahour, Zach Behn, Hudson Kirby, and Liam Lubkeman — adds additional depth and competition across the lineup.
Parkside will open preseason play with an exhibition at Milwaukee on October 25, before officially tipping off the 2025-26 regular season on November 14 against Upper Iowa University.
