The Duster Today

Media Credit: Jake Rinehart Chaps tip season off in Wayland tourney.

Between 2000 and 2005, the Lubbock Christian University men's basketball team made three trips to the NAIA National Tournament and won both a Sooner Athletic Conference regular season (2003-04) and Sooner Athletic Conference tournament (2001) championship.

The following season, the Chaps had the daunting task of replacing all five starters from those championship squads, and as a result, they were forced to rebuild.

In 2005-06, Lubbock Christian University began that process and showed some potential, despite their record. A year ago, LCU began to realize that potential, improving from 9th to 5th in the Sooner Athletic Conference, and improving their overall record eight games from 7-22 to 15-14.

As the curtain goes up on the 2007-08 season, head coach John Copeland and the Chaparrals look to continue their ascent in the SAC and, hopefully, make a fourth trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City next March. The reason for the optimism lies in a strong recruiting class that should compliment a solid nucleus of returning players and will provide the Chaps with depth and versatility they have not enjoyed since the 04-05 campaign.

At the Point
Junior college transfer Tommy Lane will most likely get the majority of the minutes running the point for the Chaps this season. A sophomore from Clarendon College, Lane brings an explosive element to the floor. He is athletic and has the ability to be a viable scoring option for coach Copeland.

Splitting time with Lane will be junior Tyler Hill. A local product from Trinity Christian, Hill has steadily improved over the course of his three years at LCU, and he is now a low mistake player who sees the floor well and will provide key ball handling off of the bench.

On the Perimeter
Many of Copeland's offensive and defensive options will come at both the two and the three, where the Chaps will suit up five players, all of them with at least one year of experience at Lubbock Christian.

Those returners include Munir Shakir, Justin Tatum, D.J. Cameron, Clay Roberts and Taylor Wilson.

Shakir, a senior from Howard College, is the Chaps' top returning scorer having averaged 8.48 points per game last season. He will have to continue to score if LCU is to be successful, but more importantly, his veteran presence and leadership, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, will be key.

Tatum, a sophomore from Tyler John Tyler High School, was primarily a defensive option a year ago, but his offensive production has improved over the summer as he has developed into a solid shooter.

Cameron, much like Shakir, will provide veteran leadership and he will be in the mix as a consistent scorer from the perimeter.

Both Roberts and Wilson redshirted in 2006-2007, and with a year to adjust to the college game, they are now ready to hone their skills on the court. Roberts, a graduate of Glen Rose High School, is as smart a player as the Chaps have, and that knowledge makes him invaluable in tough situations. Wilson, a graduate of Ropes High School, is fundamental and will provide depth as he continues to develop.

Down Low
With the loss of Max Eding and Marques Baldwin, scoring will be at a premium for the Chaps, and the majority of that ground will be made up at the forward position, where a quartet of newcomers will bear the burden.

Nick Hatcher was a teammate of Lane at Clarendon, though he transfers in as a junior. A smooth player, he has the ability to slash and find open lanes for easy lay-ups.

Jacob Klockenga played his junior college ball at Collin County Community College, where he was voted the Cougars' "Most Improved Player" last season. He has a solid shot to go along with a good feel around the basket, and his toughness means that he will be called upon to do much of the dirty work for LCU.

Joining Klockenga in the trenches will be Derrick Huffman, a junior college transfer from Holmes Community College. He is energetic on the inside, but also has the ability to step back and shoot the ball if need be.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the Chaparral faithful to be hopeful about the future of LCU basketball is Kenny Hewitt, one of the most noteworthy LCU signings in recent memory. A freshman out of North Mesquite High School and a Texas "Top 100" prospect, Hewitt is a young talent who will contribute on both ends as a scorer and primary defender.

In the Middle

As is always the case in the Sooner Athletic Conference, a solid presence in the middle is vital to success. Three players will play in the four or five positions for the Chaps this season: Bernardo Rocha, Drazen Minic, and Kurt Kerns.

Rocha is now in his third year at Lubbock Christian. He averaged 6.38 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season, and he will need to improve his production in both respects to keep the Chaps in tough games down the stretch.

Minic, a senior from Hawaii Pacific University, appeared in 24 games last season, and he will be a nice alternative to Rocha as Minic can stretch the floor with an outside shot and even shoot the three.

Kerns, a sophomore transfer from the University of Texas - Permian Basin, will be a big body off the bench and should provide a physical presence in the middle.

All-in-all, there is reason to be optimistic about the 2006-07 men's basketball season. Scoring will be a question, but given Copeland's coaching ability, his 27 seasons of experience, and the solid recruiting class he has brought in, if the Chaps can gel early, LCU is poised to continue to climb the Sooner Athletic Conference standings and return to prominence on the national level.

The Lubbock Christian University men's basketball team will open the season tonight, November 2nd, at 6:00 pm versus Missouri Baptist University at the Wayland Baptist University Classic in Plainview.

Article Tools