LMU Basketball Roster: Who’s Who on the Team

The LMU Lions men’s basketball team is set to have another great season, and here’s a look at the roster. Get to know the players and what they bring to the team.

The Coaches

Meet the Coaching Staff of the LMU men’s Basketball team

Head Coach: Mike Dunlap
A native of Queens, New York, Mike Dunlap is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Lions. In his first season at the helm of the program, Dunlap guided LMU to a 15-17 record and a 9-9 mark in West Coast conference play Under his guidance, the Lions improved to 17-16 overall and 10-8 in conference in 2012-13, before finishing 13-17 and 7-11 last season. Prior to his time at LMU, Dunlap spent one season as an Assistant Coach with the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats He also served as head coach of the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) from 2009-11.

Assistant Coach: Gabe Kindred
Gabe Kindred is in his fourth season as an assistant coach on Dunlap’s staff. Prior to joining the Lions, he was an assistant coach at Dixie State College for two seasons. A former player at Dixie State Kindred graduated from the school in 2006 with a degree in physical education He and his wife Jamie have one son, Jack Gabriel.

Assistant Coach: Donn Berry
Entering his second season as an assistant coach on Dunlap’s staff is Donn Berry. Berry has over 30 years of experience coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels. He comes to LMU after serving two seasons as an assistant coach for CSUN where he helped guide the Matadors to a 20-12 overall record and a berth in the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). Prior to CSUN, Berry served on Mike Brown’s staff with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2012-13 campaign where he worked primarily with big men Anderson Varejao Tyler Zeller and Tristan Thompson.

The Starters

The 5 starters for the LMU basketball team are:

1. PG- Jawun Evans- The 6-foot, 1-inch junior from Dallas, Texas is averaging 17 points per game and is the team’s best three-point shooter.

2. SG- Eric Cooper Jr.- The 6-foot-4, redshirt senior from Chicago, Illinois is a shooting guard who is averaging 12 points per game

3. SF- Brandon Mitchell- The 6-foot-7, senior from Los Angeles California is the team’s best all-around player and is averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds per game

4. PF- Eli Scott The 6-foot, 8-inch sophomore from Lancaster, California is a physical presence in the paint and is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game

5. C- James Batemon- The 6 foot, 3 inch junior from Compton, California rounds out the starting lineup and is averaging 11 points per game

The Key Reserves

The Key Reserves are players who come in off the bench to provide a spark or change of pace for the team. These players are usually role players who are not expected to score a lot, but they can be counted on to play tough defense and provide energy when called upon.

-Reserve guard: A player who comes off the bench to provide relief for the starting guards. These players are usually good defenders and may be asked to help shut down the opposition’s best scorer.
-Reserve forward: A player who comes off the bench to provide relief for the starting forwards. These players are usually good rebounders and can be counted on to give the team a boost on the boards.
-Reserve center: A player who comes off the bench to provide relief for the starting center. These players are usually good shot-blockers and can be counted on to protect the paint when called upon.

The Benchwarmers

The Benchwarmers are a group of players who don’t usually see much playing time They are usually the last players on the court, and they usually only come in when the game is already decided. However, they play an important role on the team. They provide energy and enthusiasm, and they are always ready to step in if someone gets injured.

Some of the most popular benchwarmers in recent years have been:

-Shane Battier: A fan favorite, Battier was known for his defense and his hustle. He was always one of the first players off the bench, and he helped the team win many games.
– Lamar Odom Another fan favorite, Odom was a versatile player who could play both small forward and Power Forward He was a key player on the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 2008.
– Metta world peace World Peace was known for his defense and his ability to score in bunches. He was a key player on the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 2010.

The Injured

Injuries are always a concern for any Basketball team and the LMU Lions are no exception. Here is a look at some of the Key Players who are currently sidelined with injuries.

F Benit Enderle – fractured left wrist
G Mario Porter – strained right hamstring
F Malik Rene-Pierremont – concussion

The Redshirts

Redshirt players are athletes who practice with the team but don’t see action in game play. While their primary role is to provide support for the active roster, they can also be called upon to fill in if there are injuries or other absences. These players usually have a strong understanding of the team’s plays and strategies, and they can be a valuable asset during practice sessions.

The Walk-ons

Most college basketball teams have a few players who don’t get a lot of playing time, but are still important members of the team. These players are often referred to as “walk-ons.”

At LMU, the walk-ons are:

– Tyler Huffman: A sophomore from Los Angeles Tyler is a walk-on who joined the team this season. He’s a 6’3″ guard.

– Matt Hoyle: A junior from Long Beach Matt is also a walk-on who joined the team this season. He’s a 6’6″ forward.

– Connor McDonough: A senior from San Diego Connor has been with the team for three seasons and is one of the team’s captain’s this year. He’s a 6’8″ forward.

The Recruits

The 2018-19 LMU men’s Basketball Recruiting class is one of the most talented and deepest in recent memory. The 10-man class features four McDonald’s All-Americans, two Parade All-Americans, and a host of other highly-touted prospects.

Here’s a look at the recruits:

McDonald’s All-Americans:
forwardSharesse Haliburton (6’8″, 225), centerOnyeka Okongwu (6’9″, 255), Tyrese Maxey (6’3″, 190), and guardJahmius Ramsey (6’4″, 200).

Parade All-Americans:
forwardIsaiah Mobley (6’9″, 215) and guardCassius Stanley (6’5″, 185).

Other top prospects
Bryce Hamilton (6’5″, 185), forwardKimani Lawrence (6’7″, 205), forwardKJ Martin (6’7″, 210), centerMoses Brown (7′, 240), and forwardDavid Singleton III (6’5″, 190).

The Alumni

The Alumni are a select group of former LMU basketball players who have gone on to play professionally in the NBA, or to have long and storied careers in coaching. These are the men who LMU fans hold up as the standard bearers for what it means to be an LMU Lion.

To be included on this list, a player must have played for LMU for at least two years, and must have left school in good standing. We’ve also included a few players who didn’t quite make it to the NBA, but who had long and successful careers overseas.

The Fans

Many fans of the LMU basketball team are familiar with the faces of the players, but do you know their names? Here is a quick guide to the team roster, so you can put a name to a face the next time you’re cheering on the Lions.

-Jalen Harris is a 6’5″ guard from Dallas, Texas. He is a junior and has been with the team since 2016.
-James Batemon is a 6’2″ guard from Inglewood, California. He is also a junior and has been with the team since 2016.
-Kyle Leufroy is a 6’4″ guard from Chicago, Illinois. He is a senior and has been with the team since 2017.
-Mattias Markusson is a 7’1″ center from Stockholm, Sweden. He is a sophomore and has been with the team since 2018.
-Ira Brown is a 6’7″ forward from Pasadena, California. He is also a sophomore and has been with the team since 2018.