Lapwai’s Titus Yearout Transfers from University of Idaho to Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho
Lapwai native Titus Yearout, a four-year University of Idaho men’s basketball player, is returning to the Lewis-Clark Valley. Yearout announced his transfer to Lewis-Clark State College on Thursday via an Instagram post, captioning the announcement with “#GoWarriors” — signaling the start of a new chapter for one of Nez Perce County’s most celebrated prep basketball products.
The move brings Yearout, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard, from Moscow back to the region where he first made a name for himself. As a senior at Lapwai High School during the 2021-22 season, Yearout earned Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year honors and helped lead the Lapwai Wildcats to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022. His return to the valley was met with enthusiasm from former teammates and fans alike.
A Season on the Sideline — and a Fresh Start at LCSC
Yearout’s path back to competitive basketball has not been without obstacles. He sat out the entire 2025-26 season at Idaho while recovering from surgery to repair his right hip labrum. The timing was particularly bittersweet: during his absence, the Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team won the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship and earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1990 — a historic run that unfolded without one of the region’s most talented guards in uniform.
In his two active seasons on the court in Moscow, Yearout averaged 2.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists across 10.3 minutes per game. He shot 40.6% from the floor and 35.7% from three-point range — efficient numbers that suggest a player capable of contributing at a high level when healthy. With eligibility remaining and a program well-suited to his skill set, Yearout’s transfer to LCSC presents a compelling opportunity for both the player and the Warriors.
At Lewis-Clark State, Yearout will join head coach Austin Johnson’s program, which is coming off a strong Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season championship. LC State’s road to a CCC Championship begins Friday, May 1st, and the Warriors are positioned to compete at a high level in the NAIA once again. The program made the NAIA Tournament most recently and has built a reputation as a consistent winner under Johnson’s direction.
Filling the Void Left by Graduation — and Building on Local Talent
The timing of Yearout’s arrival is notable. LCSC is set to lose its all-time leading scorer in John Lustig, a Colfax alum who is departing through graduation. Lustig himself welcomed the news publicly, commenting on Yearout’s Instagram post: “Let’s go!!! He’s home.”
Former Idaho teammates also weighed in with encouragement. Idaho sophomore Miles Klapper wrote, “This gonna be cinema,” followed by three fire emojis. Former Vandal Tyler Mrus offered, “Yessir brother,” and former Vandal Tre Blassingame — who recently transferred to William and Mary — commented, “Hometown hero.”
Yearout won’t be the only fresh face joining the Warriors from the local area. Soon-to-be Lewiston High School graduate Royce Fisher is also set to join LCSC as a true freshman, adding to what appears to be a deliberate effort to develop regional talent within the program.
Yearout’s move also represents a notable divergence from his former Lapwai Wildcats teammate Kase Wynott, who recently transferred to the University of Idaho from Washington State. Wynott, also a Gatorade Player of the Year honoree and the state of Idaho’s all-time prep basketball scoring record holder, heads to Moscow as Yearout heads home. The two former teammates — each carrying state championship pedigree from Lapwai — will now continue their careers at different programs without the chance for a reunion on the same roster.
What Comes Next
Yearout’s availability for the upcoming LCSC season will depend on his recovery and eligibility clearance, though the announcement signals his intent to compete. With the Warriors fresh off a conference championship campaign and preparing for another run at NAIA postseason play, the addition of a proven guard with regional roots and Division I experience could prove significant. Fans in Nez Perce County will be watching closely as Yearout works toward returning to the court — this time in Lewiston, wearing Warrior blue. For more on the Warriors’ upcoming season, visit LC State’s latest coverage here. For statewide sports and news updates, visit Idaho News.