March 28, 2024

PCM’s Gilman extends career, signs with Grand View University basketball team

MONROE — At Prairie City-Monroe, senior Logan Gilman is one of the tallest players on the basketball team and is forced to spend a lot of his court time inside the lane or at the high post.

At the next level, Gilman will be expected to be a perimeter player.

The transition to the next level may take some time and adjustment, but Gilman is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead at his future school.

That school is Grand View University as Gilman signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Vikings on Wednesday.

Gilman chose the Vikings over such programs as Northwestern College, Dordt, Central College, William Penn and others.

“I am glad it’s over. It’s nice to finally have this become official so I can move on with the future,” Gilman said after signing his LOI at PCM High School. “I liked the location, and I really liked the campus.

“I have had some cousins go there, and they really liked it. I have known Coach (Denis) Schaefer for a long time. I have been going to some of his camps for several years.”

Gilman’s cousins are Grant, Gavin and Hutch Burns, who all three played collegiately at Grand View. Grant played basketball for Schaefer, while Gavin and Hutch both played for the Viking football team.

Grant Burns isn’t the only former Mustang to don the red and white Grand View uniform. Todd Lorensen, the son of current PCM coach Fred Lorensen, played for Schaefer and started his college coaching career as a graduate assistant under Schaefer.

“I really like Grand View a lot, and I like Coach Schaefer a lot,” Fred Lorensen said.

Schaefer said Wednesday that Gilman will play shooting guard, small forward or both at Grand View. That will be a bit of a change for Gilman, who was asked to play with his back to the basket some for the Mustangs.

“There’ll be an adjustment to how he plays,” said Schaefer, who has been the head coach at Grand View since 1998. “He might be out of his comfort zone for awhile until he gets used to playing out on the wing.

“I think he’s diverse. He can post up a smaller guard. I think the perimeter shot will expand his game, too. What we are getting is a really quality person. He’s a good character kid who is going to be in the gym working on his game. He will be a good teammate for our basketball program and as he develops, I think he becomes the player everyone thinks he’ll become.”

Gilman is excited to be changing positions, but he knows that comes with a challenge.

“I prefer to not have my back to the basket,” Gilman said. “I will play wherever I can be an effective scorer. I am looking forward to improving my game as a ball handler and a perimeter player. It’ll be a challenge, but I am looking forward to that opportunity.”

Gilman has scored 1,267 career points so far at PCM. He averaged 19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore, put in 17 points and seven rebounds as a junior and is

averaging a Heart of Iowa Conference-best 21 points per game this season. He also is second in rebounding at 8.1 per contest.

After shooting 44 percent from long range as a sophomore, Gilman made only 27 percent of his 3-pointers last year. That number has jumped back up to 42 percent this season.

“I don’t think the position change will be a big deal, but the challenge will be adjusting to the college game, the speed of the game and getting used to play against tougher competition,” Lorensen said. “All those players are good. He’ll do fine though. He can do a lot of stuff on the basketball court.”

Grand View now plays in the Heart of America Conference, which includes Graceland University and William Penn University. The Vikings are currently 11-10 after finishing 16-13 last year and 17-14 two seasons ago.

The current Viking roster includes two seniors and 10 juniors.

Schaefer admitted it’s tough for incoming freshman to find court time at the varsity level right away, but Gilman said he is willing to work hard enough to earn a few minutes in his first year on the Des Moines campus.

“I plan on working all summer to get a jump start, and if I put in enough work, and improve enough, I think it’s a possibility to play some minutes as a freshman,” Gilman said.

Gilman plans on majoring in either journalism or biology. He said medical school also could be an option.