JOURNAL SPORTS 

LSU Shreveport men’s basketball NAIA All-American Hayden Brittingham has been named the 2026 Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches’ Small College Player of the Year, adding another major honor to one of the program’s most decorated standouts.

A native of Dallas, Brittingham capped his senior campaign with an extensive list of accolades, including NAIA first team All-American, NABC first team All-American, Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and RRAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named RRAC Tournament MVP, earned first team All-RRAC honors, and collected seven RRAC Player of the Week awards—four on the defensive side and three offensively.

The 6-4 senior forward was the driving force behind LSUS posting a 28-6 overall record and a 20-2 mark in conference play. The Pilots captured both the RRAC regular season and tournament championships while advancing to the Round of 16 in the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament.

On the court, Brittingham delivered consistent, high-level production across 34 games, including 31 starts. He averaged 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting an efficient 56.4 percent from the field. His all-around impact was evident in his 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per contest.

Brittingham recorded 14 double-doubles on the season and turned in several standout performances, including a season-high 38 points in a 113-84 victory over Texas A&M-San Antonio and a 15-rebound effort in a 100-85 win against Our Lady of the Lake.

As a team, LSUS established itself as one of the most balanced and efficient squads in the country, averaging 87.9 points per game while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and holding opponents to 76.3 points per contest. LSUS spent much of the season ranked in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll, climbing as high as No. 13.

Presentation of the honor will take place at the LABC’s annual awards dinner in Baton Rouge on May 4.