​LAKE CITY — Gavyn Lorenson’s summer is all about basketball. The soon-to-be-senior on the Lake City Tigers announced on social media on June 18 that he will play Division II basketball at the University of Minnesota Duluth. As a junior, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 29.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, and he famously broke a 47-year-old school record by scoring 47 points in a single contest. Among his college options, Lorenson also held offers from several Division II programs, including Minnesota Crookston, Northern Michigan, Winona State, Minnesota State Mankato, Augustana, and Concordia-St. Paul.
“I felt at home at UMD,” Lorenson said. “The coaches and everything. I felt like I’d be a good fit there, and they felt the same. They believe I can contribute as a freshman, which was my goal. The city is great too; the atmosphere, the fans who love the Bulldogs, make it a perfect fit.”
This summer, Lorenson is lifting weights and training at ETS Performance in Rochester to prepare for his final high school season with the Tigers and for his transition to UMD. He’s also spending time at Lake City High School, working out with coaches led by new head coach Jason Bonde, and playing AAU basketball with the Wisconsin Playmakers. When he’s not in the gym, he’s found time to fish.
Bonde, a Lake City resident and former two-time championship-winning coach at Rochester Community and Technical College, succeeds Greg Berge, who retired after two decades with a 392-146 record. Bonde is a close family friend of the Lorensons and played college basketball with Lorenson’s uncle, which Lorenson says has helped him prepare for this opportunity. “The experience he brings will be a perfect fit for us,” Lorenson said.
Basketball has long been a central part of Lorenson’s life, influenced most by his parents and his older brother, Hunter. Lorenson’s dad, Jason, is a Cannon Falls native who played at RCTC, while his mom, Erin, was a Lake City varsity basketball player and also ran track and cross country in high school. “Most things I’ve learned have come from them,” Lorenson said, noting they’ve helped him with the mental aspects of the sport and with his development as a player. They’ve also helped him grow as a person.
Hunter Lorenson, who was named the 2024 Post Bulletin All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year, spent the last two seasons at Minnesota Crookston and is now exploring his next steps.