The 'Cats' Meow

Flint— Finally, the whirlwind recruiting process for Flint’s finest is over. Today, at high noon, Flint Powers’ 6’2’’ senior combo guard, Laval Lucas-Perry, flanked by his mom and dad, formally announced his intention to play for Coach Lute Olson at the University of Arizona.

"I really wanted to stay home, but Arizona was the right school for me." Lucas-Perry said.

LLP's meteoric rise to national prominence this summer was just short of unprecedented; less than one year ago no one, present company excluded, believed that LLP was high-major material. He played in the shadows of players like Alex Legion, Durrell Summers and Dar Tucker. He was the “Oh, and…” guy. All those players were great, “oh, and Laval is good, too.”

He’s no longer an afterthought; he’s casting the long shadow.

Lucas-Perry credits his versatility and increased exposure for his abrupt accession to national acclaim.

"They [Arizona] got to see the best of me this summer," Lucas-Perry said with a grin. Laval also expects Wildcat fans to get the best of him in 2007, as well. Lucas-Perry, never lacking in confidence, spoke about his expectations for his freshman year.

"I see myself being an impact player in my first year...they are interested in me playing three positions."

At Arizona, LLP will be playing for one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history, Lute Olson; the coach with a higher winning percentage in the past two decades than any other coach in division one. It is a top three national program that routinely sends players to the NBA—guys like Jason Terry, Gilbert Arenas, Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson come to mind.

Arizona’s offer came quick on the heels of two outstanding performances at the NBA Players Association Camp and Arizona’s own Advanced Skills Camp. Coach Olson sealed the deal with Lucas-Perry when he made the long journey from the desert southwest to Saginaw Arthur Hill this past weekend for their first annual Hoopfest. Lucas-Perry noted that Arizona offered him the scholarship after seeing him for the very first time.

The University of Michigan, asleep at the wheel as always, only recently got into the sweepstakes. Instead of making a hard charge at Lucas-Perry, the Wolverines commenced groveling with the self-loving Legion who recently recommitted after snubbing them in April.

At last count, Arizona beat out eight or more interested schools including Wake Forest, Boston College, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Lucas-Perry will join other Michigan hoopsters who journeyed west to play in the Pacific Ten, including Detroit Renaissance’s Malik Hairston and Tajuan Porter, as well as his soon-to-be teammate from Grand Rapids South Christian, Kirk Walters.

In short, basketball junkies in Michigan have yet another reason to stay up late.

Congrats, LLP.