Centennial star commits to UNC

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

Last weekend, Italee Lucas found herself walking in the footsteps of her heroes while taking part in a basketball camp at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Then she got an offer to stay.

Lucas, who as a sophomore at Centennial last season was named the Sun's girls' basketball player of the year, made a verbal commitment to play for North Carolina when she finishes high school in two years. Last year, Lucas averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game.

"It was right in my heart ever since I wanted to go to the same school as Michael Jordan and all," Lucas said. Her other idol was Mia Hamm, but soccer was left by the wayside as high school approached, since both are winter sports.

Lucas is the latest Centennial player to commit to a university. Five players from the four-time state champions have signed to play at college next year, and one other is already playing.

Last month, Bulldogs coach Karen Weitz accepted an assistant coach position at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

Weitz was thrilled for her former player, and for her new school.

"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."

Italee's father, Lamar Lucas, said that having the college decision done will also help Italee prepare as a student for the next two years.

"Now she can focus on her grades, focus on going to UNC and be prepared and ready to go," he said.

Italee said that while she'll be spending a bit more time studying for her SAT's, she won't be backing down at all.

"I'm not going to take it any easier," she said. "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."

Weitz said she'd be surprised if Lucas took it down a notch even without having any recruiters to impress anymore.

"She loves to compete," she said. "I think that's the key thing. She hates to lose, she loves to win. Whether it's this year or her senior year or in college -- that will always be her attitude."

Lucas also said she thinks Centennial is close to naming a replacement for Weitz, although she hadn't heard any names yet.