EUNICE – Isaiah Payne has been unanimously named the LCCAC Player of the Year.
It marks the third consecutive year that the best player in the Louisiana Community College Athletic Conference (LCCAC) resides on the Cajun Prairie.
“Isaiah has been an integral part of the foundation of the LSUE Men’s Basketball program,” LSUE men’s basketball coach Byron Starks said. “He went from sixth man to star during his time with us and was a key reason to us winning three straight conference titles.”
The Ville Platte native and former Pine Prairie High star also earned first-team All-LCCAC honors. Payne led LSUE with 17.8 points per game which was fourth best in Region 23 and tops in the LCCAC.
Payne also averaged 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Payne scored a season-high 31 points against East Mississippi in the Region 23 Quarterfinals, helping LSUE advance to the Region 23 Semifinals for the first time in school history.
Payne wasn’t the only Bengal to earn All-LCCAC honors, as Alonzo Linton, Jordan Hayes, Magok Manyang and Bryce Roberts all earned second-team honors.
Starks meanwhile was named the LCCAC Coach of the Year after guiding the team to a 19-7 overall record, going undefeated in LCCAC play. It is the third straight year that Starks has received that honor.