INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball program added another key piece for the 2020-2021 season on Monday (July 27) with the signing of 6-foot guard Bakari LaStrap from The Woodlands (Texas) Christian Academy to a National Letter of Intent. LaStrap led TWCA to two TAPPS state championships in his three seasons and was named the All-Greater Houston Private School Player of the Year this past year by the Houston Chronicle. 

He averaged 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor and helped TWCA to a 27-6 record. In LaStrap's three seasons, TWCA won the 2018 and 2020 TAPPS Class 4A state titles and earned a runner-up finish in 2019. 

"Bakari comes from a winning program and he takes a lot of pride in being a leader of a winning program," head coach Byron Rimm II said. "Everyone I talk to raves about how smart he is and how great of a kid he is and how he's an incredibly high character individual. Those are the kind of kids we want in our program. 

"Athletically, he's off the charts. He continues to get better and better offensively and I think he already a college ready defensive player. We know he immediately makes us better and brings more depth and versatility to our backcourt."

LaStrap was a first team TAPPS All-State honoree as a senior, while also being named the All-Montgomery County Offensive MVP by The Courier. He capped a 21-point performance in the 2020 state title game win over Colleyville Covenant by catching a lob from a teammate and throwing down a one-handed dunk. A video of the play drew more than 12,000 views on the Overtime on Twitter, which features basketball highlights from all levels. 

LaStrap finished his AAU career with the Houston Defenders, playing on the Under Armour circuit. 

LaStrap is the Jaguars' sixth new addition for next season, junior college transfers Jonah Carrasco, Dimitri Georgiadis, Bobby Harvey, Nate McClure and Azariah Seay. 

 

2020 IUPUI Men's Basketball Signing Class (as of 7/27/2020)
Name	Ht.	Wt.	Pos.	Hometown
Jonah Carrasco	6-9	220	F	Wichita, Kan.
Dimitri Georgiadis	6-9	225	F	Richmond, Va.
Bobby Harvey	6-3	200	G	Hazel Crest, Ill.
Bakari LaStrap	6-0	170	G	The Woodlands, Texas
Nathan McClure	6-4	175	G	Tomball, Texas
Azariah Seay	6-4	180	G	Prattville, Ala.