After a second-place finish in Conference USA a season ago before being selected first in the league’s 2024-25 Preseason Poll, it’s clear third-year Louisiana Tech head coach Talvin Hester is building something in Ruston, LA.
Throughout that early success, the transfer portal has played a significant role in the way Hester and his staff have built this program over the past couple seasons.
It started with Daniel Batcho, a 2023-24 All-CUSA First Team honoree and later, the conference’s 2024-25 Preseason Player of the Year. Following Hester from his previous stint as an assistant at Texas Tech, Batcho has become the focal point of this Bulldogs attack since his arrival on campus.
However, it’s the transfer portal additions from this past offseason that helped lift Louisiana Tech to last night’s 76-66 win over UMass and a subsequent 3-0 start to the campaign.
While Batcho battled foul trouble throughout the night, picking up a pair not even two minutes in, Georgia Tech transfer Amaree Abram carried the early offensive load.
After pouring in 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting in the first half, Abram would finish with a game-high 19 points on the back of a 23-point effort over UT Arlington just last week.
“Amaree [Abram] is going to be a consistent scorer for us,” Hester said. “He’s a guy that just naturally can put the ball in the basket [but] we’re challenging him to do other things. I was proud of him, he got six rebounds today and had more assists than turnovers so he’s growing as a player. I don’t think people have seen his best yet.”
Amidst Batcho’s persistent foul trouble, Division II St. Edward’s transfer Sean Elkinton was heavily relied upon and saw additional minutes in the Bulldogs front court.
Though there’s been a transition period to the DI level for the former First Team All-Lone Star Conference selection, Wednesday night saw Elkinton’s best statline of the young season.
Contributing seven points, six boards and three assists despite some shooting issues, Elkinton’s early growth and development has been evident to Hester and his staff.
“The best is yet to come [from Elkinton],” Hester said. “With Batcho in front of him, he’s seen limited minutes but I’ve got to find ways to get him on the floor more. He does so many good things for us, had three assists with no turnovers. For a five man that can pass the ball, facilitate our offense and make three’s, we can use him in a major way.”
With Pitt transfer William Jeffress being helped off toward the end of the first half and Hester unsure on his status, Louisiana Tech will need to see continued improvement from Elkinton beside Batcho.
However, the biggest storyline on the night was undoubtedly the production from Louisiana Tech’s two JUCO transfers who both spent time in California’s CCCAA Conference.
While San Diego City College transfer Al Green had a DI career-high 11 points, former Fullerton College transfer Sean Newman, who arrived prior to the 2023-24 season, was selected as MVP of the matchup.
Newman’s double-double of 14 points and 12 assists was critical in helping the Bulldogs to pull away late into the contest after a second half burst from Frank Martin’s Minutemen.
“With as great of a player as [Batcho] is, it’s tough [missing him] but my coaches do a great job of pushing me everyday when I’m tired in practice,” Newman said. “I’ve got to keep going and keep pushing so I’m battle tested through practice and our practices are tougher than the games. That credit goes to my coaches.”
Though Hester stressed it’s early season and this team isn’t where he’d like them to be just yet, the offseason portal recruiting is already paying major dividends for this staff.
After falling just short of the 2023-24 CUSA title, Louisiana Tech has all the intangibles to contend once again and make sure this time it’s the Bulldogs standing atop the league come March.
