Outgoing Jeffersonville senior Darryl Baker announced a change in his collegiate basketball plans Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-2 guard will first play in the junior college ranks at Lamar State—Port Arthur for “one or two seasons, depending on my improvement in the classroom,” he told Hoosier Hills Hoops.

Baker had previously committed to Lamar University’s main campus in Beaumont, a four-year school that is coached by Pat Knight, the son of former Indiana University coach Bob Knight. Former Jeff standout Sherron Wilkerson is an assistant to Knight. But due to academic issues, Baker had planned to attend Lamar but not play hoops his first year.

“I’m opening (my recruiting) back up and will definitely still consider Lamar (University) after junior college,” Baker said. “But I am also open to every school.

“Playing junior college will let me work on becoming more of a vocal leader and get stronger, quicker and work on my handles,” added Baker, who will leave for Port Arthur campus August 21. “I just want to become a better basketball player every day.”

Baker led Jeffersonville to a Class 4-A semistate appearance in March, where the Red Devils lost to eventual state runner up Indianapolis Cathedral.

MORE ON LAMAR STATE—PORT ARTHUR

According to the school’s website, Lamar State College—Port Arthur, a member of The Texas State University System, is an open-access, comprehensive public two-year college offering quality and affordable instruction leading to associate degrees and a variety of certificates.

Lamar State—Port Arthur is located 17 miles from the main Lamar University campus in Beaumont, Texas.

The school’s men’s basketball team competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association at the Division I level, and completed the 2012-13 season with a 21-11 record, falling in the second round of the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament.