View on YouTubeWith at least eight future Division I college basketball players on the roster, about the only question mark for
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) heading into the 2014-15 season was on the bench.
The Lakers underwent an unusually late coaching change in August, when former head man Alan Huss left La Porte for an assistant position under Craig Neal at the University of New Mexico.
Shane Heirman, a former player at Tulsa and assistant under Huss, was hired to take over the program.
So far, so good.
See the entire preseason national Top 25
Guard Jalen Coleman
Photo by John Rowland
La Lumiere is off to a 4-0 start, averaging 109.7 points per game and winning by an average margin of 42.5 points per game. Much tougher tests are ahead, but it looks unlikely that Huss' departure will have a negative impact on a team that garnered serious consideration for the preseason national No. 1 ranking.
Senior guard
Jalen Coleman – an Illinois signee – is the ringleader. The Indianapolis native and 2013-14 MaxPreps Junior All-American is a Top 50 prospect in the 2015 247Sports Composite and is capable of scoring in bunches.
He will be joined in the backcourt by brother
Isaiah Coleman, Canadians
Munis Tutu and
Brandon Cyrus and senior
Drew Cayce.
The Lakers became really intriguing in the offseason in the frontcourt with the addition of Australian 7-footer
Isaac Humphries and 6-9
Nolan Narain – yet another talented prospect from Canada.
Alex Olesinski, a versatile 6-9 wing/forward, is back from last year.
View gallery of La Lumiere from preseason photo shootHumphries had a 41-point, 19-rebound game over the summer at the FIBA U17 World Championship against Canada, while Narain was the MVP of the fall NY2LA Futures Camp in Milwaukee.
The international flavor at La Lumiere is strong. In addition to Australia and Canada, Heirman's roster features players from China and Venezuela.
La Lumiere's last five years:2013-14 – 23-3, No. 14 final national ranking
2012-13 – 26-6, No. 7 final national ranking
2011-12 – 25-3, No. 7 final national ranking
2010-11 – 21-4
2009-10 – 10-11
