Laker Men's Basketball Inks Two Players to 2011-12 Recruiting Class

Allendale, Mich. - The Grand Valley State men's basketball team has announced the signing of a pair of players to join the Laker program. Ben Lanning of Grandville, Mich. and Ryan Sabin of Byron Center, Mich. are the first two high school players signed to the Lakers' recruiting class this year and will join GVSU for the 2011-12 campaign.

"We are very excited to have these two young men join our program," said Laker head coach Ric Wesley. "Ben Lanning is someone who made great improvement over the past year. His ability to run the floor and shoot will be a great asset to our program. He is a high energy player with a great competitive spirit. Ryan Sabin is someone we have been following for the past couple years. He is a very skilled perimeter player who can score in a lot of ways. He is a both a shooter and scorer, which is hard to find.

Lanning is a 6'8" forward who has played the past three seasons under Kyle VanderWall at Grandville High School. During his junior season in 2009-10, Lanning averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while blocking three shots per contest and shooting 75 percent from the free throw line. He will serve as a team captain for the Bulldogs in the 2010-11 season.

Sabin is a 6'3" shooting guard entering his senior season at Byron Center High School playing under coach Jared Crandall. After averaging 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game during his sophomore season, Sabin enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2009-10, when he put up 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game for the Bulldogs. He is a two-time All-OK Green selection and has shot above 80 percent from the charity stripe each of the past two seasons. A good all-around athlete, Sabin has played three years of tennis at Byron Center, earning the team leadership award in 2009-10.

This year's Lakers open the 2010-11 season with their home opener on Saturday (Nov. 13) at 7:00 p.m. against Marygrove in Fieldhouse Arena.