Lamar State College Port Arthur sophomores Devin Ellis and Tevin Baker have put ink to paper in preparation for their futures as basketball players.
The Seahawks sophomores signed to play for four-year schools next season after completing their two years of eligibility at LSCPA this year. Ellis, a redshirt sophomore forward, is a graduate of Beaumont Central High School, and will be playing for the Wiley College Wildcats in the NAIA next year. Baker, a Port Arthur native who played high school basketball for Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont, will take his talents as guard to East Texas Baptist University, an NCAA Division III program.
"The past two years have been incredible for me," Baker said, stopping at times to try to keep his emotions in check. "These coaches, my teammates, this program ... they've all meant everything to me."
Ellis explained that he was looked past as a legitimate recruit coming out of high school and had it not been for Seahawks Head Coach Lance Madison, he might not have played collegiate basketball at all.
"It was such a huge step for me," he said. "Coach Madison brought me out and taught me things that helped me become a better player and a better person. I owe this man a lot."
Baker played in 61 games during his two years at Lamar State College Port Arthur, earning a starting spot in 19 games his sophomore season. He averaged 4.5 points a game as a freshman and 5.5 ppg as a sophomore. His best game of the 2018-19 season came against NJCAA Region 14 Jacksonville when he scored 19 points, hitting 7 of 9 from the field.
Ellis played in 63 games over his two seasons as a Seahawk, starting 31 of those this past season. After doing most of his work off the bench a year ago, he became an integral cog in the LSCPA offense as a sophomore, scoring 7.8 points per game with 5.2 rebounds a game. He scored 23 points against the non-conference Houston Gladiators, hitting for 19 points against NJCAA Region 14 foe Navarro.