She still has two years of high school basketball left, but Italee Lucas already has decided which college she'll attend. The point guard from Centennial H.S. in Las Vegas, Nev., has announced that she'll head to the University of North Carolina in the fall of 2007.

Lucas made her choice after attending a basketball camp in Chapel Hill, N.C. in June. "It was right in my heart ever since I wanted to go to the same school as Michael Jordan and all," Lucas told the Las Vegas Sun.

Karen Weitz, her former coach at Centennial who recently left to become an assistant coach at the University of Pacific, told the Sun that UNC Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell will be getting a special player. "By far anyone that gets Italee has got to be pleased with not only her ability as a player but her character as well," Weitz said. "I think in God-given ability and overall natural ability, she's got to be one of the better players I've coached."

With her college decision out of the way, Lucas can focus on the remainder of her high school career. "I'm not going to take it any easier," she told the Sun. "I'm still going to try and win another state championship. If that takes me to have 20 assists and 10 points, I'll do whatever it's going to take to win a championship."

As a sophomore,the 5-7 Lucas averaged 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds while leading 33-2 Centennial to its fourth consecutive Class 4A championship. In the process, she helped the team set a state season team scoring record for high school basketball--both girls and boys teams. Lucas was named the Sunset Northwest Division's most valuable player by area coaches, and girls' player of the year by the Las Vegas Sun.

Lucas is one of the most highly rated players in the Class of 2007. According to HoopGurlz prep analyst Chris Hansen, Lucas "has game" and "truly is an exceptional talent." He also noted: "When she gets focused on it she can score at will. She comes out of her shake moves always on balance which makes up for her lack of size...If she learns the game and how to run a team from the point guard position the sky is the limit because the fact is she is simply more talented than most anyone out there."

After the 2005 Nike Skills Academy, Hansen wrote that Lucas "showed all the tools to be a great point guard. She is cat-quick, and has superb handle and a great court vision, especially in traffic. When pressed in the half court she would get lower and use her body to relieve pressure and create space...Lucas showed later in the week that she uses her physical abilities to torment the ballhandler on the defensive end as well."

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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