• DMACC returns three sophomores with starting experience
• Bears begin the season ranked third in the NJCAA Division II poll
• Three other ICCAC teams join DMACC in the NJCAA Division II poll

The DMACC men's basketball team will begin the 2024-25 season in the Southeastern Classic Nov. 1 and 2 at West Burlington. The Bears will face Missouri State University-West Plains (MSUWP) in their tournament debut on Nov. 1 and will play John Wood Community College (JWCC) on Nov. 2.

"We're excited to get started," said DMACC head coach Blake Sandquist. "We've got a good group of returners and we've got a really good group of newcomers and we're just trying to mold it all together piece by piece."

Sandquist said his team has been battling an assortment of injuries throughout the fall but has reached the point where nearly everyone is available for practice.

DMACC is coming off a 31-5 record and a third-place finish in the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship in 2023-24. The Bears won the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) with a 16-2 record but graduated seven sophomores from that team, including ICCAC Player of the Year Angelo Winkel.

And the Bears begin the season as the third-ranked team in the Division II preseason poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

"We might be a little overrated right now," Sandquist said. "As I told our team, expectations are a privilege and that's what we have. When you play at a program like DMACC, you have a high expectation every year and you have to be ready for it. Teams are going to be playing us like it's their Super Bowl."

Top returners from last season include sophomores De'Shon Fisher of Iowa City, Demerius Shakur of Milwaukee, Wis., Trevian Carson of Des Moines and Ethan Thomas of Onalaska, Wis. Fisher, Shakur and Carson bring the most experience, having started at various times during the 2023-24 season. Fisher brings back a 9.6 scoring average, Shakur averaged just more than four points a game and Carson averaged 8.5 points a game.

All three are expected to be in starting roles for the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Shakur at point guard and Fisher and Carson at the wings. Freshman Rylan Smith of Lincoln, Neb., is slated to be Shakur's backup.

"He's a really solid player and an incredible leader," Sandquist said of Smith. "He brings it every day at practice."

"Fisher and Carson had awesome off seasons and we're looking for them to take steps forward and become potential leading scorer guys for us," Sandquist said. "Both are seasoned veterans who have a lot of leadership qualities. They are going to be huge in how successful we are this year."

Freshmen Dylan Omweno of Apple Valley, Minn., and Jaden Jefferson of Forney, Texas, will see playing time behind Fisher and Carson.

"Jefferson redshirted last year and had a great offseason," Sandquist said. "He could probably start for most teams in our league. He'll be big off our bench and just bring something not a lot of people have, athleticism and shooting ability."

Andrew Austin, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward from Rock Rapids, has the inside track to starting at power forward. He, too, redshirted last season.

"He shoots it well and plays hard," Sandquist said. "He's still learning a lot but we expect him to be a serious contributor."

Jamal Ambrose, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Apple Valley, Minn., will be the starter at center.

"He'll be one of the best big men in all of junior college basketball," Sandquist said. "He can really shoot the basketball and is a really good passer. He's going to be a dominate force."

Rounding out the roster are sophomores Nathan Ruisch of Johnston and freshmen Uche Nsonwu of Phoenix, Ariz., Tim Handy of Chicago, Ill., Jalen Hayes of Milwaukee, Wis., Treyton Travis of Baxter, Brennon Clemmons, Jr., of Lincoln, Neb., Braden Drinkwine of Mayville, Wis., and Abraham Kamara of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Sandquist said Nsonwu and Clemmons, Jr., at 6-8, bring a lot of depth behind Ambrose.

Sandquist said he thinks his team will be better at rebounding than the team of a year ago and he likes what his guards can do with the ball once they get inside.

"They can get in the paint and make the right decisions whether it's for themselves or their teammates," Sandquist said. "Not a lot of people have three big guys like we do and that's a serious weapon. We might even play a couple of them together once in a while. It's going to be very interesting."

Sandquist said staying healthy is probably his main concern.

"I love where our chemistry and comradery is," Sandquist said, adding that his team has the potential to reach the national tournament for the third time in the past four years.

"We're capable of getting back to (the national tournament)," Sandquist said. "But playing in the best conference and region in the country is no cakewalk. I think our league is tougher than it's ever been. I wouldn't be shocked of the winner of our league has four or five losses."

ICCAC teams joining DMACC in the national rankings include Kirkwood Community College (KCC) at No. 6, Ellsworth Community College (ECC) at No. 7 and Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) at No. 13. Two other ICCAC teams, Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) have received votes in the poll.

Following the Southeastern Classic, the DMACC men's basketball team will open the home portion of the schedule Nov. 8 and 9 in the DMACC Classic. The Bears will face Bryant and Stratton (Wis.) College (BSC) on Nov. 8 and will play the William Penn University Junior Varsity (WPUJC) on Nov. 9.