BYU Basketball Picks Up Transfer Portal Commitment In Te’Jon Lucas
May 19, 2021, 1:03 PM | Updated: 1:07 pm
(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball landed its first player in the Transfer Portal for the 2021 offseason in Te’Jon Lucas.
Lucas, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard, played the past two years of his collegiate career for the Milwaukee Panthers in the Horizon League.
BYU landed Lucas over four other schools that included Utah, Nevada, DePaul, and New Mexico State.
110% Committed #GodsPlan🙏🏽 #GoCougs 💙 pic.twitter.com/9MqiNRIrq7
— Te'Jon Lucas (@too_smoove23) May 19, 2021
The Transfer Portal has proven to be a spot where BYU can boost its roster under coach Mark Pope. Lucas stated during the recruiting process, BYU was recruiting him the hardest out of his final five schools.
The guard position has been a top priority for BYU this off-season as they lost Brandon Averette, who opted not to use his free year created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Te’Jon Lucas is officially committed to BYU. https://t.co/R5cyDD91Ut https://t.co/2zNpuhgB55
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) May 19, 2021
Te’Jon Lucas career snapshot
Lucas, on the other hand, is taking advantage of the free year. He’s already played four years of college basketball with two seasons at Milwaukee and the Illinois Fightin’ Illini in the Big Ten Conference.
With Illinois, Lucas started in 33 games. At Milwaukee the past years, Lucas was a top performer for the Panthers.
During the last two years at his hometown school, Lucas was an All-Conference performer in the Horizon League. Lucas posted averaged 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists per game the past two years with Milwaukee.
Consistency and shooting are two areas where Lucas is looking to improve his game. Last season, Lucas shot 39.2% from the field and 27.5% from the three-point line.
BYU, under Mark Pope, has shown an ability to help transfers improve their shooting while in Provo. Alex Barcello, once a transfer from Arizona, shot sub 30% from three with the Wildcats. This past season he was an Honorable Mention All-American for BYU. Barcello has yet to announce his decision on whether he will return to play next season. A backcourt with Barcello and Lucas could emerge as one of the best in the WCC.
Lucas will have one year of eligibility to play at BYU basketball.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.