Recruiting report: Willie Lucas (2017)
NIXA — After a summer competing with the Missouri Hustle, Poplar Bluff 2017 Willie Lucas took the hardwood this past weekend at the Basketball Movement Invitational in Nixa to show off his game in a high level event that featured…
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Continue ReadingNIXA — After a summer competing with the Missouri Hustle, Poplar Bluff 2017 Willie Lucas took the hardwood this past weekend at the Basketball Movement Invitational in Nixa to show off his game in a high level event that featured numerous players who are headed to play Division I basketball.
Lucas said the Hustle had a strong summer playing in the NY2LA series and helped him take his game to another level in the offseason.
“It was a good experience,” he said. “I feel like we could’ve went farther. We had a very good team and played pretty well I think.
“It helped me play at a faster pace every game and to play more aggressive.”
A talented 6-foot-6 left handed wing that can handle and shoot the ball from the outside, Lucas is coming off a junior campaign that saw him average 21.8 points per game and lead the Mules in rebounding at 9.7 per game. He shot 51 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
He will team with five star 2019 guard Mercedus Leech to form one of the state’s top 1-2 cominations. Leech, who has drawn a slew of high major offers already, put up big numbers last season and has helped make for some competitive practices at Poplar Bluff.
“He is a great player and makes me better,” Lucas said. “I make him better everyday and we matchup very well against each other.”
A year ago, Poplar Bluff went 17-10, but Lucas said the expectations for the program are at an extremely high level as the team gears up for the open of practice a month from now.
“Our goal is to win state,” he said. “We have a great team this year. We have plenty of pieces, and I feel like if all goes well there is no reason we shouldn’t win state.”
Although he currently does not hold any offers, Lucas recently took a visit to Indiana Wesleyan and has also drawn interest from Milliken and Lindenwood.