For the second time this week a Three Rivers men’s basketball player is making the leap to an NCAA Division I team as Lamar Wilkerson put pen to paper to play for Sam Houston State.

"It's definitely a dream come true to play Division I and to play on a big stage," Wilkerson said. "I'm very excited to join their program at Sam Houston and I'm hungry to win for them."

The Bearkats will be picking up a huge asset as Wilkerson was the leading scorer for Three Rivers this past season averaging 16.7 points per contest in 27 games. He was named to the All-Region XVI team and was an Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American.

Wilkerson was a Raider for two seasons and amassed 640 points. He only played eight games in 2020-21 due to a hamstring injury.

"I wouldn't trade my time at Three Rivers for the world," the 6-foot-4 guard from Ashdown, Arkansas said. "I'm really going to miss my teammates, they're my brothers. I'm also going to miss the coaches here."

Wilkerson had other Division I offers from Florida International, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Louisiana Monroe.

"What made Sam Houston stand out was the family atmosphere," Wilkerson said. "Coach (Jason) Hooten reached out to me and it was nice seeing a new team and how they worked. I just clicked immediately with them. Now the goal is to compete and bring a National Championship to Huntsville (Texas)."

Sam Houston State plays in the Western Athletic Conference and the Bearkats are coming off of a 19-14 season, losing to Grand Canyon in the second round of the WAC Tournament.

Wilkerson is the fourth Raider from the 2021-22 roster to sign with a Division I program, joining Yves Nkomba (University of Texas-Rio Grande), Kieth Kiner (Niagara) and Kinyon Hodges (Eastern Illinois).

Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic