Tevin Baker was only supposed to navigate the hallways at Lamar State College Port Arthur the last week of August, not inches of rain in his home.

Aug. 30 was to be the Port Arthur freshman’s third day on campus. He was enjoying the comfort of home with his mother, staying only a 5-minute drive north of the school.

Tropical Storm Harvey changed that — at least temporarily.

“When my house flooded, my mom went to New York for a couple of days,” Baker said. “I was faced with the house and stuff. I called coach [Lance] Madison and told him my books might be ruined. He said, ‘Don’t worry about that.’

“So, my mama came back. She just told me, ‘Don’t worry about the house. Just go to school, play basketball, do you. But you’ll have to move into student housing.’”

That was the last thing Baker thought about upon enrolling. Harvey left the Kelly Catholic High School graduate no choice, however.

Like so many in and around Port Arthur, Baker took to Twitter pleading for a rescue. The New York Times interviewed locals about their experience with Harvey, and Harvey told the newspaper he and his mother Kathy weren’t ready, adding the water came in at a rate of 5 to 6 inches per hour. By 4 a.m., he told the Times, the water reached their ankles in the house.

He then went to local shelters and his uncle’s and best friend’s houses before he got to campus almost two weeks later.

“When I moved in, it was rough at first, but then I got kind of used to having roommates and with the school right there, walking to class, it made me focus even more,” Baker said.

 

PUTTING HIS MIND TO IT

Baker has put his mind into everything Lamar State — academically and athletically.

Through his first semester, he sports a 4.0 grade-point average majoring in business administration. The 5-foot-11 guard also has earned his first two starts of the season, both in last weekend’s Seahawks New Year’s Classic, helping the Seahawks (6-7, 0-3 in Region XIV South Zone) to back-to-back wins. He scored two points against Lone Star College-Cy Fair and four points against North American University.

“It feels pretty good,” Baker said about starting. “I’ve been working my tail off every day in practice since October, so it feels like an accomplishment to me.”

Madison thought Baker, who was Kelly’s team captain last season, seemed a little nervous at first in his starts.

“He’s come off the bench and gave us solid minutes,” Madison said. “He’s had good practices. I just think he needs a little more playing time.”

Baker averages only 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, but Madison is certain he’ll make a bigger impact in the second half of the season.

Sophomore teammate Jase Miguez of Nederland has noticed the hard work Baker puts in on and off the court.

“Tevin is a very hardworking kid,” Miguez said. “He takes his mind off some things and puts it in the game of basketball, so he gets into it. He’s locked in. He’s a great kid on and off the court.”

 

NOW AND THE FUTURE

Baker wasn’t the only Seahawk to reach a 4.0 GPA this past semester. Redshirt freshman Ethan White of San Antonio achieved the mark as well.

They’re examples of the student-athletes Madison recruits every year. But Baker’s resolve after hardship is a sign of his quick maturity, the coach said.

“He has some core values,” Madison said. “I think his future is bright. He does very well in the classroom, does well in the court and just overall a very good person. His teammates like to have him around. It says a lot about his mom. She did a good job teaching him right from wrong. He lives that every day, and we’re fortunate to have him on his team.”

Along the way, Baker and the Seahawks — who are looking for their third win in a row Friday night at the Carl Parker Center against Panola College (8-5, 1-2 Region XIV North Zone) are having fun and strengthening their camaraderie.

“We’re looking better,” Baker said. “I feel our chemistry is growing within us, and it will help us be successful in the long run with conference. We started off bad, but I believe we’ll finish off pretty decent.”

Baker expects to move back to his home “right around” March, but Seahawk Landing doesn’t seem so bad after all.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews