Lopes Announce Payton Watson as First Signing of 2026 Recruiting Class
February 8, 2026
The Lamar Community College women's basketball program recently announced the signing of Payton Watson, making her the first official member of the Lopes' 2026 recruiting class.
Watson, an athletic combo guard from Rosharon, Texas, will bring lockdown defense and offensive versatility to next year's roster. Watson has been a standout performer at Iowa Colony High School this season, leading her team in assists, steals, and three-point percentage.
Head Coach Chris Godfrey expressed excitement about Watson's commitment:
"Payton has the chance to be an extremely impactful defensive player in this league," Godfrey said. "Her athleticism and motor will create so many opportunities for us on both ends of the floor. We're so excited to have her coming in August. She's a perfect building block to add to roster that we are building from scratch."
Watson's signing sets the tone for what Godfrey promises to be a strong recruiting class for the Lopes. The program's competitive record (13-6, 5-2) has sparked plenty of interest in the program over the last few months.
"Payton is the first of our signings to announce her commitment, but there will be more announcements coming very soon. With the success we've had this year, recruits are really starting to get excited about the possibility of joining our program. We just have to continue to capitalize on that positive momentum and enjoy the process as we move through the season."