In front of family, teammates and friends, Lynden Christian senior Libby Stump signed a letter of intent Wednesday evening, Nov. 10, to play basketball for the University of Montana next year.
Two of her LC classmates — Andrew Hommes and Alli Van Kooten — also have announced their intentions to play college ball after their senior seasons. Here’s where the local standouts will be next year:
Libby Stump, Lynden Christian
University of Montana (NCAA Div. I)
The 5-foot-8 guard is headed to Missoula to play for the Grizzlies next year. After helping the Lyncs to the Class 1A state championship her sophomore season, she was an all-Northwest Conference selection after averaging 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists for LC’s undefeated squad last year. She was the only county player named to Scorebook Live all-state team, earning honorable mention honors among all classifications.
Quote: “(Montana) was a perfect fit for me. It was a very Libby place. The coaches and players were awesome. Right away I knew and decided to go for it.”
Andrew Hommes, Lynden Christian
Point Loma Nazarene University (NCAA Div. II)
The Northwest Conference’s premier returning big man follows in the footsteps of older sister Torina, who plays on the Sea Lions volleyball team, and older brother Daulton, who was the NCAA Division II player of the year in leading the Sea Lions of San Diego, Calif., to a national runner-up finish in 2019. Andrew made a name for himself his junior season, earning first-team all-NWC honors in leading the Lyncs to an unofficial conference championship last season after averaging nearly 18 points and 7 rebounds a game. The 6-foot-5 power forward also was named second-team all-state after helping LC take fifth in the Class 1A State Invitational.
Quote: “The campus and location have always been something that caught my attention because who wouldn’t want to go to college on the beaches of San Diego. It is a great faith-based and highly academic school, and I am beyond blessed and grateful to be a part of that kind of program. To add on top of all of these things about the college, I get the opportunity to spend two more years in school with my older sister Torina.”
Alli Van Kooten, Lynden Christian
Northwest University (NAIA)
The Lyncs’ 6-foot forward will head to Seattle to play for Eagles next year. The senior was a member of LC’s 2020 state championship team and was a key inside player for LC’s undefeated NWC championship team last season, averaging 7.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. Van Kooten continues the Whatcom County connection with Northwest, which is coached by local high school and college legend Ken Crawford. On the Eagles roster this season are senior Sam Van Loo (Lynden Christian), senior Ellesse Fitzgerald (Meridian), and junior Kim Weden (Ferndale).
Quote: “I knew it (going to Northwest) right away. The girls were super sweet and really welcomed me. And it was super cool knowing Sam. It (signing early) feels so good.”
