RICHARDSON, Texas - Oklahoma Christian senior guard Miles Gibson was named the Lone Star Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year on Monday afternoon, as the conference announced its annual preseason poll and honors as part of LSC Hoops Week.
Gibson, a 6-foot-5 native of Allen, Texas, becomes the spotlight honoree in the conference heading into the 2026-27 campaign. Additionally, the Eagles were projected to finish 11th in the 17-team league, collecting 333 total points in the voting conducted by LSC head coaches, sports information directors, and media members.
Gibson Takes Top Individual Preseason Honor
Gibson comes off a stellar junior campaign in which he earned LSC All-Conference Second Team honors. He served as the primary catalyst for the Eagles' offense, averaging 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
During the 2025-26 season, Gibson recorded seven double-doubles, produced two 30-point performances, and tallied 31 steals. He was also named to the 17-member LSC Preseason Players to Watch list alongside top talent across the conference.
Eagles Return Core Depth, Add D1 Transfer Robert Lewis
Oklahoma Christian brings back vital production and depth from last season's squad alongside Gibson. Key returning guard Carson Jones brings scoring firepower after averaging 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 34 steals in 26 games. Perimeter threat Ma'Syn Howell returns after averaging 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists (51 total) in 25 appearances, while forward Noah Clark provides tested interior defense and efficiency following a junior campaign where he averaged 3.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 18 blocks.
The roster also features Winston Allen, Amari Brown, Tre Davis, Chacun Anderson II, and Eli Eaves.
Bolstering the frontcourt is Division I transfer Robert Lewis. A 6-foot-9 fifth-year forward from St. Louis, Missouri, Lewis joins the Eagles after competing at Division I Lindenwood University and Arkansas–Pine Bluff. Lewis brings valuable length, rim protection, and NCAA Division I interior experience to head coach Kendre Talley's squad for his final collegiate season.
2026-27 LSC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
Defending champion Dallas Baptist (DBU) was picked to win its third consecutive LSC title, gathering 35 of 51 first-place votes for 841 points. Eastern New Mexico (751 points) and Lubbock Christian (735 points) rounded out the top three.
|
Rank
|
Team (1st Place Votes)
|
Total Points
|
|
1
|
DBU (35)
|
841
|
|
2
|
Eastern New Mexico (6)
|
751
|
|
3
|
Lubbock Christian (2)
|
735
|
|
4
|
St. Edward's (1)
|
670
|
|
5
|
Western New Mexico (4)
|
657
|
|
6
|
St. Mary's
|
615
|
|
7
|
West Texas A&M (1)
|
596
|
|
8
|
Angelo State (1)
|
499
|
|
9
|
Texas A&M-Kingsville
|
439
|
|
10
|
UT Tyler (1)
|
399
|
|
11
|
Oklahoma Christian
|
333
|
|
12
|
UT Dallas
|
316
|
|
13
|
UT Permian Basin
|
294
|
|
14
|
Midwestern State
|
260
|
|
15
|
Texas A&M International
|
200
|
|
16
|
Cameron
|
125
|
|
17
|
Sul Ross State
|
73
|
2026-27 LSC Preseason Players to Watch
-
Jhordan Ryan | Angelo State | F | Sr. | Kinesiology | St. John's, Montserrat
-
Xavier Harris | Cameron | G | Sr. | Business Management | Northglenn, Colo.
-
Bishop Jones | DBU | G | Sr. | Communication | Frisco, Texas
-
Maurice Austin | Eastern New Mexico | G | Jr. | Business Administration | Pueblo, Colo.
-
Leo Nordberg | Lubbock Christian | G | Sr. | Finance | Helsinki, Finland
-
Aric Demings | Midwestern State | G | Sr. | Applied Arts & Sciences | DeSoto, Texas
-
Miles Gibson | Oklahoma Christian | G | Sr. | Business | Allen, Texas
-
Sean Elkington | St. Edward's | C | 5th | MBA | Crosby, Texas
-
Lawyer Jones | St. Mary's | G | Jr. | Exercise & Sport Science | Waco, Texas
-
Antwonne Holmes | Sul Ross State | G | Sr. | Business Administration | El Paso, Texas
-
Aaron Perez | Texas A&M International | G | Jr. | Business Administration | Houston, Texas
-
Bryce Smith | Texas A&M-Kingsville | PG | Jr. | Business Management | Baytown, Texas
-
Jaden Jefferson | UT Dallas | G | Jr. | Healthcare Management | Forney, Texas
-
Tyler Hamilton | UT Permian Basin | G | Sr. | Marketing | Detroit, Mich.
-
Sean Emfinger | UT Tyler | G | Sr. | Management | Philadelphia, Pa.
-
Jailyn Sledge | West Texas A&M | G | Jr. | Management | Amarillo, Texas
-
Andre Harris | Western New Mexico | F | Sr. | Sports Science | Mesa, Ariz.
Season Information & Postseason Format
The top nine teams in the regular season standings qualify for the LSC Tournament, scheduled for March 2 on campus sites before shifting to the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, March 4–7.
-
Season Opener: The LSC women's basketball season tips off as early as Friday, Oct. 30.
-
LSC Hoops Week: Coverage runs Oct. 19–23, featuring video interviews with all 17 head coaches and players on the official LSC YouTube page.
-
Live Streaming: All Lone Star Conference games will air live on FloCollege.
