Loyola Marymount forward Keli Leaupepe, right, drives against Saint Mary’s forward Kyle Bowen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount won 78-74. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Keli Leaupepe committed to Loyola Marymount before setting foot on the campus.
When he finally did arrive, he was pleased.
“It was a beautiful,” he said.
Fast forward to 2023 and Leaupepe, known as the man with the mullet, wasn’t ready to leave LMU and has returned for fifth season. Leaupepe averaged 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds last season.
“It was a hard decision,” he said. “Do I go pro or come back to school. I love LMU, I love the location, the resources we have here and I love to play for (coach) Stan (Johnson). He loves basketball, he knows a lot about basketball, I trust him and I think he can help me go where I want to go.
Leaupepe has seen his playing time increase each season at LMU, starting at 21.9 minutes per game as a freshman to 23.6 to 26.2 and last season 32.1. He was one of two players to start all 31 games for the Lions. Leaupepe is a two-time All-WCC Honorable Mention and a member of the All-WCC All-Academic Team. This season he was selected to the All-West Coast Conference preseason team.
He reached the 1,000-point, 500-rebound mark last season when the Lions went 19-12, recording the most wins in Johnson’s brief career and the most since the 2018-19 season.
The Lions won the Jamaica Classic, the first tournament win and trophy under Johnson, the Lions also swept Portland and recorded wins over ranked opponents Gonzaga, sixth in the nation at the time and St. Mary’s, 15th at the time.
“I liked how serious we took everything,” Leaupepe said of last season. “The way we lifted in the weight room, walkthroughs, everything we did, we did it professionally and Cam (Shelton) was a pro last season. He set the standard for the rest of the guys and I want to carry that over to this season.”
Shelton will be missed this season. The La Verne native closed out his collegiate career averaging 21.4 points per game, shooting 49 percent from the field, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
“He was outstanding,” Leaupepe said. “As a player, leader, off-the-court, you see how hard he works on and off the court. It’s good to be around players like that. It brings you up.”
Picking up Shelton’s leadership void is something that Leaupepe will be looking to do.
“I have a lot of experience under my belt and knowing that this is my last year, I will be trying to teach the younger guys,” he said.
In the ever-changing world of college basketball, Leaupepe and center Rick Issanza (3.6 points) are the only two starters returning for the Lions.
Alex Merkviladze (7.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 28 games), Michael Graham (4.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 31 games) and Lamaj James (3.0. points, 2.2 rebounds, 26 games) all contributed last season and are returning.
The Lions have brought in five transfers who should help make up for Shelton’s departure.
After stops at Murray St. and LSU, Justice “Juice” Hill arrives. Hill averaged 13.4 points in his last year (2021-22) at Murray State. He averaged 5.6 points in 30 games last season at LSU. Will Johnston arrives from Texas-Rio Grande Valley, where he averaged 14.5 points and shot 43.8 percent on 3-point field goals and Justin Wright (North Carolina Central) arrives after averaging 13.7 points as a sophomore and 16.1 points as a junior for the Eagles.
Lars Thiemann (Cal) and Dominick Harris (Gonzaga) are two other incoming transfers for the Lions.
“We have a bunch of guys coming in and adapting,” Leaupepe said. “We have some solid guards coming in.”
LMU opens the season Tuesday at Gersten Pavilion against Westcliff (7 p.m., ESPN+), the first game of the Leaupepe farewell tour.
“I didn’t think it was a possibility, to be here five years,” Leaupepe said.”Time flew by. I can’t believe this will be my last first game ever. It’s exciting.”
