By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

The conference head coaches have voted Cincinnati State Technical and Community College as the preseason pick to win the 2015-16 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) men's basketball championship.

Cincinnati State received five of the eight first place votes, while Lakeland Community College received two and Owens Community College received one. Cincinnati State averaged 1.75 points among all voters, while Owens averaged 2.25 and Lakeland was at 3.5.

Lakeland and Owens have shared the past two OCCAC regular season championships. Last year, Lakeland defeated Owens 80-78 in the Region XII District 11 championship game and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament, where they finished fifth in the country. 

Either Owens, Lakeland and Cincinnati State have met in the Region XII District 11 championship game over the past four seasons. Lakeland defeated Owens in 2011-12, Owens defeated Lakeland in 2012-13, Cincinnati State defeated Owens in 2013-14 and Lakeland defeated Owens in 2014-15. In fact, the last two district championship games have been decided at the buzzer.

Outside the top three, Sinclair Community College edged out Cuyahoga Community College for the preseason fourth place pick. Sinclair averaged four points among conference votes, while Cuyahoga averaged 4.13.

Rounding out the top eight are Columbus State Community College (6.13), Lorain County Community College (6.75) and Edison Community College (7.5).

Team Capsules

CINCINNATI STATE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (25-7, 11-3 OCCAC)

The Andre Tate led Cincinnati State Surge will feature seven sophomores this year, including four transfer sophomores. They include Justin Baker (Owens C.C.), a point guard who averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 assists per game last year; Mamadou Sakho (Monroe C.C.), a wing who averaged nine points and five rebounds per game for NJCAA Division I Clinton Community College two years ago before redshirting at Monroe last year; Brandon Trotter (Colby C.C.), a forward who averaged 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last year; and Joshua Santos (Ancilla College), who averaged 12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last year.

The three returning sophomores are Grover Anderson (12.2 PPG), Cory Smith (10.6 PPG) and Dellan Whatley (0.9 PPG). Anderson was a First Team All-OCCAC pick last year.

Freshmen include: Deshannon Lewis (G, Cincinnati Princeton), Isaiah Bostic (G, Cincinnati Turpin), Chris Blount (F, Lakota East), Robert Smith (F, Cincinnati Taft), Ladell Griffin (C, Cincinnati Schroeder) and Marlon Kordrostami (C, Bell - Ottawa, Canada). Kordrostami is listed at 6'10".

The Surge open their 2015-16 season in the Danville Area Tipoff Classic Oct. 30-31 against Parkland College and Danville Area Community College.

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (25-7, 12-2 OCCAC)

The 2015-16 Owens Express, led by fifth-year head coach Dave Clarke, will feature just one returning sophomore in Dilyn Good, who averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game last year. Tony Stallworth, a 6'8" transfer who played for Oakland Community College in 2013-14, joins the team as the second and final sophomore.

Aside from those two, the team will feature a talented 13 member freshmen class, which includes Xavier Coachran, a 6'5" guard from Ann Arbor Huron, Andre Foster, a 6'4" guard from Trotwood-Madison, Dae'Shawn Jackson, a 6'0" guard from Springfield, Derrik Jamerson Jr., a 6'5" guard from Detroit Cornerstone, Keondre Carter, a 5'11" point guard from Highland Park, Michigan, Roy Hatchett Jr., a 6'0" point guard from Cleveland Glenville, La'Tre Lane, a 6'4" guard from Marshall Public, Charles Penn III, a 6'7" forward from Macomb Dakota, Tyrese Searles, a 6'2" guard from Detroit Cornerstone, Brian Walker, a 6'6" forward from Ann Arbor Huron and Tariq Scott, a 6'1" guard from R.J. Reynolds.

"This is by far our biggest and most athletic freshmen class that we have brought into Owens since I've been the head coach," said Owens head coach Dave Clarke. "I expect multiple players will receive multiple Division I and II offers after just one year and move on to competitive programs."

Owens begins its regular season Oct. 31 at Lansing Community College.

LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (27-7, 12-2 OCCAC)

The Lakeland Lakers, led by Terry Bowe, have won three of the past five district championships. This year's top returner is Chris Scott, a 6'8" post player who averaged a double-double in last year's NJCAA Division II National Tournament and drew NCAA Division I interest. Two key newcomers are Jay Thomas, a 6'3" wing transfer from Southwest Tennessee, an NJCAA Division I school, and Frank Barber, a 6'3" transfer wing from NCAA Division I Cleveland State.

The biggest loss for Lakeland will be Mike Davis, last year's OCCAC Player of the Year who was also named an NJCAA Division II First Team All-American. He averaged 20.6 PPG last year.

SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE (16-14, 5-9 OCCAC)

The Sinclair Tartans, led by head coach Jeff Price, return Manny Powell Jr., a Second Team All-OCCAC selection and Marcellous Washington, an Honorable Mention All-OCCAC selection, from last year's team. Powell Jr. was the team's second leading scorer at 15.5 PPG, while adding 5.3 APG. Washington was fourth on the team in scoring at 9.6 PPG.

The biggest loss for Sinclair is Westley Parr, a First Team All-OCCAC selection who led the team at 19.2 PPG.

Price is hoping two key transfers help pick up some of the scoring that will be missed with Parr. They are Akiean Frederick, a 6'8" forward who redshirted at Owens last year, and Reshardd Harris, a 6'4" guard. Furthermore, Steven Perriere, who led the team with 9.4 RPG last year, returns to help in the post.

"We will field nine sophomores this year with a host of experience at every position," Price said.

Sinclair begins its regular season Nov. 1 at the U.S. Naval Academy JV.

CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (18-10, 9-5 OCCAC)

The Cuyahoga Challengers, led by Michael Duncan, have zero returners, but feature four sophomores that weren't on the team last year.

According to Duncan, the team's top newcomer is Kash Blackwell, a 6'4" sophomore guard from Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

"This year's team looks determined to take the next step in making Cuyahoga a contender for the OCCAC title," Duncan said. 

The Challengers begin the regular season Oct. 30-31 at the Kennedy King Tournament in Chicago, Ill.

COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (8-20, 3-11 OCCAC)

The Columbus State Cougars, led by first-year head coach Ed Thompson, return Honorable Mention All-OCCAC selection Robert Caldwell, who averaged 11.6 PPG as a freshman over 16 games last year.

The team's top newcomer is Rodney Willis, a 6'3" guard/forward from Briggs High School in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus State begins its regular season Nov. 4 at home against Hocking College.

LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (13-16, 4-10 OCCAC)

The Lorain County Commodores won four games in conference play last year despite being the lone NJCAA Division III team. Their top returner is Kevin Jenkins, who averaged 12.3 PPG last year.

Lorain County will have to replace its top two scorers in Marvin Coleman (19 PPG), who was named a Second Team All-OCCAC selection, and Brandon Lawler, who averaged 18.1 PPG.

"We have a young team with enough talent to finish strong and in the middle of the pack in the conference," said Lorain County head coach Marty Eggleston. "Our hope is to teach these young fellas what it takes to succeed in college basketball. We are excited to get started."

The Commodores begin their regular season Nov. 6 at home against Pitt-Titusville.

EDISON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (7-19, 0-14 OCCAC)

The Edison Chargers, led by head coach John Ralph, feature top returners Cody May and Malik Thurman. That duo combined to average 31.9 PPG last year with Thurman leading the team at 18.7 PPG.

The team's top newcomers are Damian Cook of Tri-Village H.S. and Dusty Poteet of Troy Christian H.S.

Edison opens its regular season against Glen Oaks Community College Nov. 6.