Ottumwa -- Street & Smith's, the national publication that provides preseason ratings of college basketball teams and players, has placed Indian Hills at No. 13 in their ranking of junior college teams heading into the 2018-19 season.

Being recognized nationally, with just two players back from last year's 33-1 squad, is good news for IHCC head coach Hank Plona.  "We have a mostly new group that hasn't achieved anything yet," Plona said, "so a preseason ranking is mostly a guess.  We've had a great first month with this group, have great leadership, and we know that we have a chance to have as good a year as anyone in the country.  Obviously, as the ranking indicates, we have a lot to prove to ourselves and to others and we look forward to working hard to do that."

The two returners from the 2017-18 Indian Hills team are both listed among Street & Smith's JUCO Super Sophs.  Tomas Woldetensae is listed on the 3rd team of the top sophs for the upcoming season and Devontae Lane is on the 4th team.

Indian Hills fans will get a rare chance to see in person the teams and the individual player the magazine judges to be the best in the nation in juco hoops in the preseason.  The top two rated teams will be at the Hellyer Center the same weekend for a marquee event.  Preseason No. 1 Northwest Florida State will battle the Warriors on Dec. 1, the night after Indian Hills hosts No. 2 College of Southern Idaho which boasts the preseason Player of the Year in Khalid Thomas.