SANDPOINT, ID. — Just months after winning the Big Sky Championship and ending the program’s 35-year NCAA Tournament drought, the Idaho men’s basketball team is making sure its momentum reaches well beyond Moscow.
The Vandals traveled to Sandpoint this week to host a youth basketball clinic at Sandpoint High School, giving dozens of young athletes the chance to learn from Division I players and coaches while strengthening the program’s connection to communities across North Idaho.
For head coach Alex Pribble, the trip served a dual purpose: giving back while helping a roster with 11 new players continue to build chemistry before the season begins.
“We take great pride in representing the state of Idaho,” Pribble said. “A place like Sandpoint is absolutely beautiful, so we were looking for opportunities to come out and do some team bonding. What better way to bond as a team than to come up here and do a youth clinic?”
The visit comes after one of the most successful seasons in program history. Idaho returns as the defending Big Sky champion after making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990.
“It’s nice to be able to come up here and say we’re the returning Big Sky champs,” Pribble said. “But at the end of the day, we’re just trying to make people proud and work hard. We’ve got 11 new players with this group, so it’s a new journey, and we’re really excited to get it going again.”
Pribble said it’s important for the program to connect with fans across the state.
“We take a lot of pride in being the University of Idaho,” he said. “Finding an opportunity to come up to Sandpoint, come up to northern Idaho and spread the word that Vandal basketball is back, and that we want people to come down to Moscow and fill up ICCU Arena and be part of our journey, is very important to us.”
Spokane native Ryan Lafferty, who transferred to Idaho after beginning his career at Washington State, said the clinic was a chance to give back while also helping the team grow closer.
“It’s good to give back to the community,” Lafferty said. “I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but we’ve done a lot of events like this. I remember being a kid at these camps.”
“As much as this is a camp, it’s also team bonding between us,” he added. “We get to spend time together. It’s a great time.”
Junior guard Miles Klapper said traveling to Sandpoint allowed the team to connect with a new group of young athletes.
“It’s definitely cool to get up here in the north and see some new kids,” Klapper said. “It’s refreshing seeing new faces out here and building more relationships.”
Pribble said those community connections are part of what makes the program special.
“We take a lot of pride in being great students, great community members and becoming great basketball players,” Pribble said. “Learning how to be a leader in the community is a big part of what we do.”
With another season approaching, the Vandals hope the momentum from last year’s championship run continues both on the court and throughout communities across Idaho.
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