The outstanding efforts of the Lakeland Community College men's basketball team throughout the 2023-2024 season did not go unnoticed, as the team collected several top honors in the recently announced Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) postseason awards. Head coach Terrell Eskridge was named OCCAC Coach of the Year, while sophomore guard Jareon Mayo took home Player of the Year and All-OCCAC first-team recognition.
Under Eskridge's leadership, the Lakers put together a remarkable 24-4 record, capturing a share of the OCCAC championship and an NJCAA Region XII tournament appearance. It was Eskridge’s second consecutive season being named the conference’s Coach of the Year.
One driving force behind Lakeland's success was Jareon Mayo, whose prolific scoring and all-around play made him the standout player in the OCCAC. Mayo averaged 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, earning him both Player of the Year and first team All-OCCAC honors. Additionally, Mayo was named to the All-Region XII team for his efforts.
Joining Mayo on the All-OCCAC team was sophomore forward Alex Benson, who garnered second-team recognition. Benson's consistent play, averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest, was vital to the Lakers' championship run.
The 2023-24 season marked the fifth consecutive season the Lakers eclipsed the 20-win plateau and third straight clinching at least a share of the OCCAC title.