The newest recruit to the Lamar State College Port Arthur basketball coaching staff didn't need a map to find his way to campus. Seahawks Assistant Coach Brock Thewman is a Southeast Texas native through and through, joining the LSCPA staff in 2022.

"I couldn't pass up an opportunity to coach in my hometown area," said the native of Beaumont and 2014 graduate of Hamshire-Fannett High School. "I really feel rejuvenated and thankful to be back home helping athletes on and off the court."

Thewman comes to Port Arthur after a stint in Kansas, where he was assistant basketball coach for the Dodge City Community College men's team and Pratt Community College's women's team.

The team leader in scoring and rebounds who led his high school team to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years, Thewman earned his first college degree at Texas A&M in 2018, a bachelor's in sports management with minors in coaching and business.

The Eagle Scout Award recipient was a member of the National Honor Society at Hamshire-Fannett, where he also was a varsity cross country runner and soccer player.

He coached an AAU team to a 54-6 record over three summers and began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2018-19 at NCAA Division III Sul Ross State. He earned a master's degree there in human performance, graduating magna cum laude.

"Brock's an up and coming basketball coach. I'm glad to have him on my staff," Lance Madison, head coach at LSCPA, said. "He's got a great basketball mind, plus he's a local guy from the area. He's a great relationship builder with the student-athletes.

"He's going to recruit locally, and I think he'll do a good job getting us players from the Golden Triangle. Academically, he's done a good job with the student-athletes at his prior schools, monitoring their academic success. That's one of the reasons I hired him."

Thewman returns the compliments.

"I'd like to give my thanks and appreciation to President [Betty] Reynard, Athletic Director Scott Street and Head Coach Lance Madison for the opportunity to be a part of the Seahawk Family," he said.

"I am looking forward to upholding the standard of excellence that this program was built upon for many years now. Coach Madison has instilled a winning culture and has laid a firm foundation brick by brick.

"It is my mission to assist in carrying on the success that this program has enjoyed, and having our student-athletes engaged in community outreach, being model students, and being an asset to the team."