The excitement surrounding the return of prominent players shines a light on high hopes for LC State basketball teams! The men’s basketball coach at Lewis-Clark State, Austin Johnson, took a moment to reflect on the current state of his team.
With a thoughtful tone, he remarked, "We lost six of our top eight scorers. That clearly shows our team has undergone significant changes. We've only retained 32% of our minutes played, a mere 28% of our scoring, 28% of the rebounds, and just 22% of our 3-point shots made. In short, we’ve lost a substantial amount from a very competitive squad.”
For the men’s side, the team is looking to rebound after losing stars from last year's successful run to the NAIA Tournament. Only six players are returning, including key seniors John Lustig from Colfax and Grayson Hunt from Pullman. On the women’s side, however, the roster looks much more stable, with most of last year's players back, including six out of the top eight scorers.
The senior trio of Sitara Byrd, Darian Herring, and Peyton Hymas stands out, signifying leadership for the women's team. As Coach Caelyn Orlandi stated, "I value all aspects of this group. The strongest teams are those led by their players, and I believe we have the potential to create one of our best player-led teams yet!"
The women’s team is set to kick off their season against Dickinson State at 5:30 p.m. on October 24 in Lewiston, followed by the men’s team who will face Arizona Christian at 6 p.m. on the same day.
Now, let's dive into a discussion surrounding the transfer portal's impact on the game.
While NCAA regulations concerning name, image, and likeness (NIL) don’t yet apply to the NAIA level, Johnson shared that the current landscape of college athletics is creating obstacles for institutions like LC State.
“The transfer portal and NIL have definitely made it tougher for us at LC State,” Johnson explained. "Over the past two years, we’ve seen five players, who were significant contributors for us, make the jump to Division I programs. These days, every school is competing to recruit the same talent." Notably, Alton Hamilton, last season's leading scorer, has decided to join Division I's Eastern Washington University, part of the Big Sky Conference.
Johnson admitted that he found the demands of this year’s recruitment more challenging than anticipated. Traditionally, LC State aims to finalize their recruitment by late spring; however, they didn’t finalize their last signing until June this year.
“As a program, we have always prioritized bringing in high-character individuals and, ideally, hoping they possess solid basketball skills while developing them as players. Yet, with some key players leaving, it left us scrambling for replacements, ultimately settling on the best high-character candidates available, regardless of their height,” Johnson added, reflecting on the unique challenges faced.
This season, the Warriors have added six new players via the transfer portal, along with three true freshmen. Johnson indicated that Dallon Morgan, LC State's standout transfer from Eastern Arizona College, will be sidelined for the first month of the season due to a foot fracture, which complicates their lineup further. He also mentioned that junior guards Jamare Childs from Eastern Arizona College and Brandon Suber from Citrus College in California are expected to play significant minutes. Meanwhile, other newcomers are still vying for their roles on the team.
Johnson emphasized the importance of strong relationships and player development in their program: "If you focus on building relationships and fostering player growth, I believe we can compete with any program in the country. We may not have all the flashy elements, but we embody blue-collar values. The players who remain and commit to this program understand that, which is a big part of their success.”
With the departure of Hamilton, returning sophomore center, Josh Salguero, is poised to step up his game at the pivotal five position. Johnson indicated that the Warriors will need to adjust their offensive strategy and will likely not lean on their bigger players for scoring as heavily as they did last season with Hamilton. As a result, many on the team, including Lustig, will face new expectations in terms of leadership, while sophomore Dylan Skaife transitions from a supporting role to becoming a key option after showcasing his impressive 3-point shooting towards the end of last season.
On the women's side, Ellee Brockman joins the Warriors after spending two seasons at Division II’s Western Washington. Orlandi mentioned that Brockman sent her highlight tape over the summer, explaining, "Look at her length, size, and athletic ability — it aligns perfectly with our style of play. We were just unaware of her talent back when she was in high school."
The Warriors women's squad is largely intact, generating continuity and camaraderie. A total of ten players will be returning for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Hymas expressed her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “It's a fantastic team environment, regardless of victories or defeats. What’s exciting is our success—our posters are everywhere in local stores and restaurants!”
The team expects several players, including Tatum Brager, Lindsey Wilson, and Kendall Wallace from Clarkston, to elevate their performance levels significantly this season. Wallace's role will be particularly vital given that LC State is seeking to compensate for the impressive statistics left by Ellie Sander, who concluded her tenure with more than 1,000 career points. Fortunately for the Warriors, Sander remains in Lewiston as an assistant coach for the program.
Orlandi’s coaching journey began under Brian Orr, her Warrior coach, and she emphasized the significance of Sander's presence: "Sander brings invaluable experience and expectations for the players. She can step in to offer guidance when necessary, while learning the ropes alongside assistant coaches like Cali Moore and me.”
Defense remains a core focus for the Warriors’ strategy, particularly with Byrd and Hymas dominating one side of the court: “If I were an opposing team, I wouldn't even think of attacking that side of the floor,” Orlandi said playfully. “The good fortune is that they’ll be positioned perfectly where they can best exert their influence.”
So, what are the aspirations for the upcoming season? After being eliminated in the second round of last year’s NAIA Tournament, the women’s team was clear about their ambitions for this season ahead. “We can achieve great heights together,” Byrd declared confidently. "We have the necessary tools at our disposal, and I truly believe this team can realize its full potential.”
On the men’s side, even with significant roster changes, Lustig feels optimistic about their pursuit of success after losing in the first round of last year’s national tournament. "My goal is to win as many games as we can, starting with a victory over Arizona Christian in our opening game, and then aiming for a spot in the national tournament and the conference championship," Lustig expressed with determination.
Both LC State teams reached their respective conference championship games last season, setting the stage for tough matches ahead, particularly as the men prepare to face the reigning national champion College of Idaho in the Cascade Conference, and the women gear up for a competitive non-conference schedule in addition to their challenging CCC commitments.
“I can’t wait to go out there and face off against other teams,” Byrd shared with excitement. "I believe we have a strong team, and I’m eager to see everyone excel and shine on the court.”
For more information or to share your thoughts, feel free to reach out to Taylor at 208-848-2268 or email staylor@lmtribune.com, or connect on X or Instagram @SamCTaylor.
