North Lake Men's Hoops Hosts Community Day 12 p.m. Tuesday
IRVING, Texas – Dallas College North Lake's No. 4-ranked men's basketball team will host Texas Wesleyan University Developmental Team for a noon matinee Tuesday on Community Day.
Local schools and community members will be in attendance for the 12 p.m. tipoff in the Blazer Dome. Community organizations are also invited. North Lake is hosting the event for the second straight year, and intends to grow the event into an annual date on the Blazers' schedule.
"It's important to me because I grew up in Irving, and I want people to know North Lake is here in the community," second-year head coach Josh Mills said. "It's a great opportunity for young kids to continue academically and athletically."
The Blazers (4-2) are coming off an 89-73 win over the University of Arkansas Cossatot in the Blinn College Blue Bell Classic during a 3-1 week. North Lake, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III school, won two of those games against NJCAA Division I and Division II opponents.
Sophomore guard Jakob Zenon, the reigning back-to-back Dallas Athletic Conference Player of the Week, is averaging 21.8 points, six rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 49 percent from three-point range. Sophomore forward Ring Deng is averaging 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from long distance. Sophomore guard Randy Woolf is scoring 12.2 points, shooting 48 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range, while dishing out 3.2 assists and coming up with 1.8 steals per game. Sophomore guard Bryson Smith is averaging 11 points, 5.7 assists and four rebounds, and is shooting 52.6 from downtown. Freshman guard Autavius Hobbs is scoring 7.2 points, and shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.
Last season, the community event drew 557 spectators.
"It gives our guys a feeling of a packed house," Mills said. "That's always fun, and having everybody on your side, cheering for you."
North Lake ran basketball camps for many of the schools who will be attending the Community Day game.
"Those children are going to recognize our players," Mills said. "It'll be a lot of fun for everyone involved."
Last year, North Lake went 25-8 overall, 10-0 in the DAC, won the NJCAA Division III South Central District championship, and advanced to the national tournament for a second straight year.