Goshen, IN — Just two days after announcing its first recruit signing for the 2007-2008 campaign, the Goshen College men’s basketball program was at it again, adding Kalamazoo Valley Community College transfer Kyle Laker to the roster, the school announced Friday.
Laker, a lengthy, athletic, 6-8, 210-pound post player, accompanies 6-7 Zeeland West High School (Zeeland, Mich.) graduate Taylor TenHarmsel (click here for related article) as Goshen’s two off-season signings to date, giving the Leafs needed depth inside.
“It was clear to us that we needed to add some quality post players to our roster to become as competitive as we would like, and we feel we’ve done that with both Kyle and Taylor,” said Stan Daugherty, Goshen head coach. “Kyle is a tremendous student-athlete that will bring both length and experience to our team. I have been impressed with his ability to run the floor and move without the ball. He is a good athlete who can jump extremely well and contest shots in the paint. I think his offensive game will continue to improve over the next two years.”
Laker, who was a three-year varsity letter winner and 2005 graduate of Wayland High School (Wayland, Mich.), will graduate from Kalamazoo Valley this spring as either a National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American or NJCAA Distinguished All-American, depending on whether he finishes with a 3.7 or 3.8 GPA on KVCC’s 4.0 scale. A standout in the classroom, Laker led KVCC’s basketball program in blocked shots as a sophomore, averaging just under eight points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. He connected on 44.4 percent of his field goals while at the junior college, knocking in 24 of 61 three-point attempts (39.3 percent) as well.
Longtime KVCC head coach Dick Shilts said that Laker also led the team in charges taken as a sophomore, a complement to his squad-leading 90 offensive rebounds and 40 blocked shots. Laker — who started in all but three games this season — helped Shilts’ squad earn 19 wins as a freshman and 18 as a sophomore.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to coach Kyle for two years, as he is an extremely dependable young man who never gets down on himself,” said Shilts, who completed his 38th season as a coach in the college ranks. “He has his best basketball ahead of himself, as he has improved and matured in his time here. He’s a deceptive shooter and a very smart team player, has some real toughness and keeps at it on the boards. He’s a leader by example, and was respected by all of his teammates here.”
Laker came to KVCC after a consistent high school career at Wayland, averaging just over 10 points per game and seven boards per game as a senior. A National Honor Society member and High Honor Roll student in each of his four prep years, Laker earned the Wayland High School Japinga Award as a senior, an annual honor bestowed to the school’s “top male student-athlete.”
A superior track and field career helped Laker to that award, as the junior-to-be will also participate as a member of the track program once at Goshen. A gifted leaper, Laker will bring a career-best 6 feet, 9 inch clearance to the high jump event, a mark that — if duplicated — will break the current Goshen record by three inches.
“We are very excited that Kyle has picked Goshen College to continue his college career,” Daugherty said. “He’s an excellent student and he will be a valuable asset to our team over the next two years. We feel very fortunate to add him to our roster.”
A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at KVCC, Laker said he plans to major in computer science once at Goshen. Laker received interest from Kalamazoo College, Taylor University, Concordia University and others following his sophomore campaign at Kalamazoo Valley, but said Goshen felt like the best fit on both the academic and athletic fronts.
“Coming out of high school, I wanted to continue my basketball career and (Kalamazoo Valley) was a good fit financially, as well as being close to home,” Laker said. “Now, I kind of want to get off on my own a bit, and Goshen seemed like a very good experience for me. It’s a great school academically, and I really enjoyed the players and coaching staff on my visit there. It felt good to be wanted, and it was the type of atmosphere in which I could see myself doing well.”
With most Mid-Central Conference programs boasting players anywhere from 6-7 to 6-10 along the front lines, Daugherty said that both Laker and TenHarmsel will help his team immediately up front. Laker said he hopes to fit that need as best as possible.
“I’d like to be a mentor to any of the younger guys and I’d like to be a leader,” Laker said of arriving to Goshen. “I want to learn the system as quickly as possible and see if I can be a contributor to the team right away. I’m really a team player more than anything else, and I think one of my best strengths is my ability to learn. I want to continue to become the man I want to be, and the players were a big reason I chose Goshen. I think I can grow and learn with them and from them, and I’m going to try to help them become as successful as possible in my two years there. I’m really excited.”
Daugherty said he plans to announce additional signings for the 2007-2008 season in the coming days. Check back to this website for the latest in the Leafs’ recruiting efforts. To contact Daugherty, click here to send him an email or call him at (574) 535-7493.
| 
Kyle Laker