Evan Lavery

Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Houston Christian University • @HCUHoops • NCAA Division I • @SouthlandSports • #DawgsUp • IG: coach_lavery

[HCU Athletics @HCUAthletics]

🏀@HCUHoops places pair on Southland Academic All-Conference team #DawgsUp
https://t.co/h4T4IvVcqc

[WEAVE @WEAVE]

Together with Malone Gros we are excited to announce his commitment to Houston Christian University. #WEAVE 🧶

[Kayden Nation @KaydenNation4]

Blessed! 🧡

[Evan Lavery @CoachLavery]

Dude came a long way from 6 AM shooting sessions at Lake Central High School

@APShort143210… Congrats Bulldog🫡

#TheRegion

[UTSA Men's Basketball @UTSAMBB]

Roadrunners hoops welcomes Adam Short as Assistant Coach

📰 https://t.co/RPXwrhr2PF

#BirdsUp🤙 | #LetsGo210

[Esyah Pippa-White 🐍🤴🏽 @EsyahPippa]

H-TOWN what it do! Appreciate @CoachDoty and the rest of the staff for believing in me! Special shout out to @bucketball for always looking out for me.
#Odessa#MKE#HTOWN#BucketFam 🤠
#DawgsUp 🏀 🐍 🛣️

[Kameron Clark @kameron_c1ark]

100% committed let’s work ‼️

[Chris Mubiru ⚡️ @ChrisMubiru5]

H-Town let’s do it. #DawgsUp

[Columbia Cougars @ColumbiaCougars]

🏀 Bredehoeft Selected to Lead Columbia College Men's Basketball

#WeAreCC
https://t.co/BncezwAywN

[Craig Doty @CoachDoty]

We have a second high-level player in the portal who has earned the right to level up.

I’ve spent the majority of the last 730 days with Demari Williams. Over his two years at HCU, I’ve watched him develop into exactly the player Arizona State saw when they signed him out of high school.

• Slashing wing with a grown-man, Power 5 body

• 6’6” (measured with shoes), 220 lbs — not an ounce of fat on him

• Dynamic defender who can guard 1-4

• Elite on-ball defender who matched up against our opponent’s #1 scorer each night

• Played his best when it mattered most. In 28 Southland Conference games: 10.4 PPG on 90-194 FG (.464), 21-60 from three (.350), and 90-107 FT (.882).

• Against Iowa State (12/29/25): 19 PTS (7-13 FG), 5 REB

• Good perimeter shooter who can really cut — best 45 and corner cutter I’ve ever coached

Off the floor, Demari’s habits are elite. He eats clean, takes great care of his body, works hard in the weight room, and has zero bad habits or vices.

Note: Last season we had two double-figure scorers at HCU who entered the portal for revenue opportunities: Julian Mackey (to FIU) and Bryson Dawkins (to YSU). Both were feature players and double-digit scorers at their new schools. Demari is cut from the same cloth and will be great for you.

Call or text me with any questions. I’ll give you everything you need to know.

[HOF Sports Group @HofSportsGroup]

Let’s work💙🧡🤍
#committed

[Craig Doty @CoachDoty]

Elijah Brooks played the last two years for us at HCU and is available in the portal. He’s the real deal:

• Two-year starter who led our team in scoring (12.3 PPG), finished second in rebounding (4.5 RPG), and led in steals (1.5 SPG) this season.

• Switchable defender who can guard 1-4 effectively.

• 6’4” PG (6’3” without shoes, 6’4” with shoes. We measure).

• American Conference+ level athlete — plays downhill, explosive vertical athlete with high-level strength and burst.

• Extremely high basketball IQ — Elijah initiated our offense from the point, which included seven formations and over 50 sets/variations.

• Developed into an elite pick-and-roll player — rarely missed a pocket pass or read. Float game established.

• Barkley game (watch the 11/27/24 game vs. NAU for the full Barkley bag including 29 PTS on 13-19 FG). Most teams run a double at him and are forced to play in rotation.

• Elite cutter off the ball

• Game-changer in transition with his speed and vision

• Career 189/381 (.496 FG%) — all at the NCAA Division I level

• Broke his hand this season, but it’s fully healed with no restrictions. He’s been working out daily in our gym and is 100% ready to go. There will be no issue with the medical hardship as we have x-rays, documents, and info from doctors, specialists and surgeons. He appeared in 8 game, all in the first semester.

Call me with any questions. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Note: Last season we had two high level players at HCU enter the portal for enhanced revenue opportunities: Julian Mackey (to FIU) and Bryson Dawkins (to YSU). Both were double-figure scorers who absolutely crushed it at their next school. Elijah is cut from the same cloth and will do the same for you.

Hit me up!

[Aleeeix Sempeeereee @aleixsempere_]

After a great conversation with @CoachDoty and staff , I’m blessed and excited to announce my commitment to play Division I basketball at Houston Christian University. Ready to get to work. @HCUHoops #Committed #D1

[Max Alexander @maxalex32]

Blessed and thankful for the journey ahead
#Dawgsup
@HCUHoops
@CoachDoty @CoachLavery
@SliceAgentRaab

[jonasisit @jonasisit]

100% COMMITTED #gohuskies

[Bubz Alvarez @Bucketboybubz_]

Let’s do it🤘🏻#GODDID #committed
@chrishynes3_ @HCUHoops @CoachDoty @CoachLavery

[Craig Doty @CoachDoty]

One of the most enjoyable things about coaching is seeing young men improve.

These guys have maximized their opportunities at HCU. Some of them have more than tripled their averages and production from their previous Division I.

[Evan Lavery @CoachLavery]

@CoachAdamW On select players, for sure! 😂

[Evan Lavery @CoachLavery]

Selective memory is a thing

I can’t remember what I had for breakfast or what elementary school my wife works at on Thursday’s, but I can tell you what JUCO someone played at in 2022-23

[Evan Lavery @CoachLavery]

@avilamensBB BULLDOG!

[Craig Doty @CoachDoty]

With our season coming to a close in the Southland Conference Tournament, I wanted to share a message of appreciation to our students, fans, alumni, family and friends for supporting us this season. We are grateful for you all!

Our team fought hard, stayed together, and found some success amid the adversity of a college basketball season. Despite seven scholarship players missing a combined 101 games due to injury, our team never gave in. We won 4 of our final 6 regular-season games to secure a tournament berth and extend our season.

As we continue to build something special here at Houston Christian University, we highlight some positives from our season:

✅ Picked 12th in Jeff Goodman’s Southland job rankings and finished tied for 7th.

✅ HCU is one of only 5 Southland teams with back-to-back bids to the SLC Tournament in 2025 & 2026

✅ Highest home attendance in 7 years

✅ Back-to-back winning seasons at home (first time since 2015-17)

✅ Team GPA of 3.17

✅ $150k in facility upgrades benefiting both women’s and men’s sports at HCU

Our goal is not only to continue exceeding projections, but also to raise expectations as we keep moving the needle. We will continue to work! The best is yet to come.

I close with a verse for everyone to reflect on as you go about your days and work with the talents you were blessed with. Continue to pour maximum energy into every task knowing the ultimate reward comes from God.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” -2 Chronicles 15:7