Men's Basketball | 07.21.2021

LEWISTON, Idaho – Head Coach Austin Johnson announced the addition of two NCAA Division II graduate transfers to the 2021-22 LC State Men's Basketball roster on Wednesday. Kevin Baker comes to Lewiston by way of Central Washington, while Alex Sommerfield will join the Warriors from Alaska-Fairbanks.
 
"We are excited to add both Kevin and Alex," Johnson said. "It's unique for us to have graduate transfers and it's even more unique to have former junior college teammates reunite. We lost most of our production on our frontline from this past season's team, so getting size and skill was a priority in the recruiting process. We'll need both of them to be at their absolute best for us to have an opportunity to compete in the much-improved Cascade Conference."
 
Baker, a 6-8 forward, also competed at Green River College and Peninsula College of the NWAC. During the 2019-20 season at CWU he averaged 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in a 17-win season. Baker started 20 of the 22 games that he played in and shot 54 percent from the floor and 48 percent from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 22 points with five 3s at NNU.
 
As a sophomore at Green River, Baker averaged 21.5 points and 9,5 rebounds per game en route to being voted the NWAC West Region MVP and first-team all-defense. He helped the Gators to 20 wins and a top-8 finish in the NWAC tournament. Baker finished the season in the NWAC's top 10 in points and rebounds per game, and in blocks. As a freshman at Peninsula College, he led the NWAC with a .710 field goal percentage while averaging nine points and five rebounds a game.
 
"I chose LC because of the program's success and style of play," Baker said. "I wanted to finish my career off with a chance to compete for a championship and I felt that LC was the best place for that."
 
"Kevin is very skilled and has great size to go with that skill," Johnson said. "We are looking for him to step in right away and be an impact for us offensively, defensively and on the glass rebounding."
 
Sommerfield, a 6-7 forward, also competed at Green River College prior to transferring to a GNAC program. During the 2019-20 season, he played in all 30 games and made 10 starts while averaging 7.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He helped the team to the semifinals of the GNAC tournament and was named to the GNAC All-Academic Team in his final year.
 
At Green River, Sommerfield was a two-time All-NWAC West-Region selection. In his sophomore season, competing with Baker, he averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game and shot over 40 percent from 3. For his work on the court and in the classroom, he was named the Green River Male Athlete of the Year as a sophomore. Sommerfield holds the program record for career 3-poitners made.
 
"I chose LC because of the winning tradition, relationships on the team and the chance to compete for a championship," Sommerfield said.
 
"Alex is a tremendous teammate that loves the game and has a passion for improving," Johnson said. "We expect a lot out of him this year both on and off the court in a leadership role."
 
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