7-Footer Humphries Joins Four Canadians At La Lumiere

Listed by MaxPreps as the #4 ranked team in the nation the La Lumiere Lakers have four Canadians and as of last Friday afternoon, they have officially landed their own version of Thon Maker; 2016 7’0” Aussie Isaac Humphries.

If Humphries name rings a bell,  that’s because he was the U17 Australian who scored a tournament record 41 points to go with 19 rebounds and 5 blocks against Canada at the U17 FIBA World Championships in Dubai last summer.

Humphries landed at a Chicago airport Friday afternoon and is set to make his La Lumiere (9-0) debut in Florida at the City of Palms Classic December 21st. Humphries joins an already lengthy Lakers frontcourt featuring 6’10” Alex Olesinski and 6’9” Nolan Narain. Narain who is enjoying his first season south of the border has been excelling early. For example in front of a plethora of NCAA scouts in Kentucky at the Marshall County Hoopfest, Narain from Hamilton, ON drew rave reviews in La Lumiere’s 77-48 thrashing of Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville,TN) while totaling 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Speaking over the telephone with La Lumiere assistant coach Brad Johnstin, he let it be known Humphries is no ordinary import but also that Humpries arrival contrary to what people think actually bodes well for Narain.

“I think it’s only going to bolster Nolan. On the court they complement each other so well.” Johnstin said.  “With Olesinski, Alex is a high major guy too, you got three high major bigs all skilled and know how to play. They’re all very unselfish kids and phenomenal people.”

With their new three headed monster together,  La Lumiere will boast arguably the fiercest front court in the entire nation.

What makes Humphries unheralded is the fact that past Australian student-athletes who have made the jump to America have been half Australian, half American such as the case with Ben Simmons (Montverde) and Jonah Bolden (Findlay/Brewster). Or Sudanese-Australian’s like Thon & Matur Maker (Carlisle/Orangeville).

Entering uncharted waters and on the cusp of setting a precedent for future Australian hoopers, Isaac Humphries born in January of 1998, becomes the first through and through Australian to make the jump directly to American high school basketball.  A pioneer and ambassador by no stretch of the imagination.

In grassroots circles very few have a better pulse on Australian basketball then La Lumiere assistant coach Brad Johnstin. Johnstin has been to Australia already three times including twice in the last six months. A Chicago native Johnston was also present in Dubai at the U17 World Championships in September. No stranger to Australian prospects Johnstin mentioned how Humphries maybe the best “through and through” Aussie prospect to land in America since the NBA’s #1-overall pick in 2005 Andrew Bogut.

“Not going to put it on him because he’s only 16 but you do hear comparisons he’s ahead of where Bogut was leaps and bounds at his age. He’s a special kid, grounded, humble and works hard. He’s got a chance.” Johnstin said.

“He’s well rounded and that’s why I think La Lumiere is the right fit. He fits right in this group that wants high academics and embraces the community of La Lumiere. Isaac’s the perfect fit for this because he’s diversified.”

La Lumiere Canadians (L to R): 2017 Tyler Plummer, 2015 Munis Tutu, 2016 Brandon Cyrus & 2016 Nolan Narain.

Just looking at the Canadian contingent at La Lumiere you can see what Coach Johnston means. Searching across the entire Canadian high school basketball player pool you would be hard pressed to find any more well rounded student-athletes then Munis Tutu, Nolan Narain, Brandon Cyrus and Tyler Plummer. All four are articulate, intelligent and come from great family backgrounds. Some important intangibles that fit the La Lumiere mandate. The Lakers just don’t take the best players they search for the best people.

MAKER vs HUMPHRIES

Few people in the world exist that have saw both Thon Maker and Isaac Humphries play live. Johnston is one of them and he has saw both play in person on several occasions.  Before both Maker and Humphries battle it out in a tilt between La Lumiere and Orangeville Prep scheduled in February 2015, we begged Johnston the question on where Humphries stacks up against his fellow countrymen Thon Maker? Johnston tackled the topic transparently; “They’re both different. I’ll say basketball wise I think Isaac Humphries has just as high, if not the highest ceiling of any 16 year old in the world. There is no one in the world at his age that has a higher ceiling.” Johnstin offered.

A statement reiterated by his performance at the U17 FIBA World Championships. Humphries was sensational for the Aussies averaging 18.9 and 11.6 rebounds per game on route to a silver medal including a 5-2 final record.

Humphries arrives in the Hoosier state with an offer list that already includes Arizona, California, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oregon and UCLA recruiting the Aussie 7-footer.

A burly Humphries has landed and truth be told he may just be scratching the surface of his potential, but he and La Lumiere are set to take American high school hoops by storm. It’s only a matter of time.

Under the tutelage of La Lumiere head coach Shane Heirman and his staff, watch out for the big fella patrolling the paint for La Lumiere in 2015. He joins four Canadians in La Porte, IN determined to deliver Heirman and the Hoosier state of Indiana a national high school championship in April.

FREE THROWS

You can’t speak about La Lumiere and not include 2015 SG Jalen Coleman in the conversation. The Illinois letter-man is arguably the best shooter in America for the 2015 class.

He averaged 15.2 points per game and shot 50% from three-point range on the Nike EYBL circuit with All-Ohio Red.

Coleman’s transfer from Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) to La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) in 2013 helped the Lakers cement their rise to national powerhouse status in recent years. A focal point on the perimeter and another reason why La Lumiere will be serious players for a national championship at season’s end.