Aaron Landon is not afraid to name names when it comes to tampering in college basketball. The head coach at Saint Martin’s put Idaho State on blast for going after his players in August.
Both schools are set to begin the fall semester in just a few weeks.
Although tampering continues to be an issue for every college sport, even beyond college basketball, it is rare to see a head coach go scorched earth on a public platform. He did not shy away from conflict!
What is Saint Martin’s University?
Established in 1895, Saint Martin’s is a private Benedictine university located in Lacey Washington. It offers 28 baccalaureate programs and 14 graduate programs to a total enrollment of ~1,400 students. The campus sits approximately 55 miles to the southeast of downtown Seattle. The university owns 380 acres.
Saint Martin’s competes on the Division II level of NCAA competition as a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Saints’ biggest win in school history came in 2008 when the men’s basketball program upset Colorado State.
Aaron Landon was hired as the head coach for the 2019-20 season after six years at South Puget Sound Community College. He took over a team that won only seven games in the year prior. Saint Martin’s went 7-22 during his first season and 2-10 during the pandemic-shortened season. It has only been up from there!
The Saints went 18-9 in 2021-22, 24-7 in 2022-23, 21-8 in 2023-24, 19-12 in 2024-25 and 26-6 in 2025-26. They were also ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history in any sport in 2024.
Aaron Landon is not afraid to call out tampering in college basketball.
Saint Martin’s University is set to begin the fall semester on August 24. Every athlete who plans to compete during the 2026-27 academic year must be enrolled by August 28. That is just three weeks away.
From there, the Saints will begin the college basketball season in November. Official practices will likely get underway in early-to-mid October. The roster is already set. School starts in less than a month.
Or is it?
According to the head coach, Idaho State — with help from and/or alongside a basketball trainer in Oregon — are trying to steal his players. Aaron Landon put them both on blast.
Jacob Begin works with players in the Pacific Northwest.
It is unclear as to whether Begin is working with Idaho State or if he is working independently. It is also unclear as to which players are involved.
Tampering exists on every level on the sport but Landon makes a good point. To go after a player who is not in the transfer portal in March, April, May or June is one thing. Still not great, but it is something that happens. To go after a player in August, with less than one month until the fall semester, is egregious.