AMES – Justin Brookens, a sophomore with the Iowa Lakes Community College men's basketball team this past season, has been named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

A transfer from Bryant & Stratton College, the Milwaukee native arrived at the Estherville campus in the fall of 2019. After a stellar freshman season with the Bobcats, Brookens repeated his on the court success in the ICCAC.

He was named an NJCAA First Team All-American, First-Team All-NJCAA Region XI member and the ICCAC co-Player of the year. Brookens helped lead the Lakers to an overall record of 26-6 and a conference record of 13-3.

He finished second in the country in three-point percentage (51.7) and fifth in free throw percentage (87.6). He had the fourth most made threes in the nation with 107.

During a seven-game stretch at the end of the conference schedule, Brookens made 32 of 42 three-pointers, a 76% clip.

He made five or more threes in a game eight times including a season-high of eight vs. John Wood, Ill. on Nov. 16. Only twice did he fail to connect from long range in a game.

As a student, he was a second-team academic all-Region XI performer, earning between a 3.0 and 3.49 grade-point average. He served in the community in numerous projects including helping elderly residents with chores, assisting at the food bank and instructing youth basketball clinics.

Brookens will attend Western Illinois University in the fall.

Other finalists for the Male award were Ellsworth wrestler Cardeionte Wilson and Iowa Central track and field standout Courtney Lindsey.

NIACC women's basketball standout Autam Mendez was the Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Other finalists were Emily Murphy of Indian Hills (soccer) and Winrose Chesang (cross country/half marathon).