LCC Hoops on Hiatus: Reevaluating the Game Plan

In a shock of events yesterday, Lenoir Community College (LCC) has made the difficult decision to suspend its men’s basketball program for the 2024-25 season. In a move coined as a “gap year,” the institution seeks to reevaluate the trajectory of a program that not only has a storied legacy since its inception in 1977 but also recently experienced a renaissance under the guidance of Head Coach Matt Grantham.

Grantham’s tenure brought a remarkable turnaround for the Lancers, as last season bore the fruits of rigorous labor and tenacity. The program notched an impressive 16-12 record, marking the most victories in 22 years, the first winning season in a decade, and a postseason seed that the team hadn’t achieved in 14 years. Furthermore, the team’s success on the court was matched by academic excellence, maintaining a formidable 3.45 team GPA. These feats, including the most league wins in 16 years, heralded a new era of promise for LCC basketball.

Yet, despite the recent upswing, Richey Huneycutt, Director of Marketing and Communications at LCC, has confirmed the impending hiatus. This strategic pause is tied to the college’s efforts to address compliance with Title IX, balancing the scales of opportunity between men’s and women’s sports. Currently LCC has only one women sports, Volleyball, as Soccer program was dismantled at the beginning of the season. By rule, LCC must keep an equal amount of male and female sports. Before yesterday announcements, LCC had Baseball (male), Volleyball (female), and Basketball (male).