Small stature, but large game for Lucas

Despite his small stature of 5-foot-9, 150-pounds, Jai Lucas has the speed, skills and smarts to make him one of the best point guards in the 2007 class. Playing in the 17-under division of the Kingwood Classic with the Houston Hoops, Lucas' game looked as sharp as ever.

A master at changing speeds and making the off rhythm play, the Houston Hoops offense clicks into gear when Lucas, the No. 19 ranked player in the class of 2007, takes over at point guard. Gary Johnson relies on his post feeding ability to get him touches inside and Mike Singletary gets the majority of his open looks from three off Lucas' ability to penetrate and pitch.

Lucas does not just utilize his speed and ball handling abilities to set up his teammates, he also has the ability to get his own shot. He is very good at working off screens without the ball, catching square and quickly knocking down threes. And most impressive is his off beat one foot runner that he proficiently shoots from 15-feet and in. The bottom line his that Lucas can score on the move and with creativity.

"At my size I have to have a runner," said Lucas, who attends Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. "Speed and quickness is key for a small guard. Anytime I penetrate, players try to bump me, so I have to get lower with my handle and stay low so I maintain balance against contact."

With Lucas' dad John Lucas being 6-foot-3, Jai Lucas is hoping to hit a growth spurt or two.

"My dad grew a lot in the eleventh grade to reach 6-foot," said Lucas. "Then in college, he grew to 6-foot-3. I'm hoping something like that happens for me."

Lucas already has one Big 12 offer in his tip five school list. And even though he is only a sophomore, look for his list to get shorter instead of longer.

"I like Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Oklahoma State," said Lucas, whose older brother John Lucas, Jr., just finished his college career at Oklahoma State. "Texas has already offered., and I plan to work with this list and make it smaller."