The season-long rumor has finally been put to rest — Loyola star Pat Spencer plans to play college basketball next season. The news was reported by Watch Stadium's Jeff Goodman on May 10 and confirmed by Spencer himself Tuesday on Lax Sports Network.
Spencer joined host Tom Eschen to talk about his upcoming matchup with fellow Tewaaraton contender Grant Ament and Penn State, and was asked about Goodman's article, which covered Spencer’s future as a college basketball player.
“Yes, I’ll be playing basketball next year in college. Obviously, lacrosse is not out of the picture,” Spencer told Eschen. “Right now, my focus is this week and what we have here. Then, once the season is over in two to three weeks, I’ll be able to focus a little on that and figure out my future from there.”
“Yes, I’ll be playing basketball next year in college. Obviously lacrosse is not out of the picture.” Conversation with @LoyolaMLAX star Pat Spencer on hoops, @Tewaaraton, @NCAALAX quarterfinal vs Grant Ament & more on Lacrosse Now 9pm ET on the LSN app & https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw pic.twitter.com/igC6KSgZaa
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) May 14, 2019
The news comes as no surprise, as the senior entered the NCAA transfer portal in December. According to Goodman, he has attracted interest from multiple schools, but he cannot proceed with visits until his college lacrosse career is over.
Spencer’s decision comes weeks after he was drafted in both the MLL and PLL’s collegiate draft. He went seventh overall to the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the MLL Collegiate Draft on March 9 and was the first overall pick in the inaugural PLL College Draft by Archers Lacrosse Club.
The Loyola star will put his professional lacrosse future on hold for at least a year to pursue basketball. He was a standout high school basketball player at Boys’ Latin (Md.)., averaging 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game his senior year.
But for now, Spencer is focused on one thing — winning a national championship with seventh-seeded Loyola. The Greyhounds will battle No. 1 seed Penn State on Sunday in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
Spencer leads Loyola with 43 goals and 60 assists, sitting third in Division I with 6.44 points per game. Last weekend, he set the NCAA career record with his 226th assist in Loyola’s win over Syracuse. He also moved into second place on the all-time points list, passing Connor Fields’ 364.