Jai Lucas

Jai Powell Lucas (born December 5, 1988)[1] is an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats and a former American professional basketball player, as well as a former NCAA college basketball player for the Texas Longhorns. He was a McDonald's All American and was rated 20th by ESPN class of 2007.[2] Lucas, along with Huntington WV Forward Patrick Patterson, had very well known recruitments in 2006 and 2007. Lucas previously played for the University of Florida, but decided to transfer from the Florida Gators men's basketball team, due to lack of playing time at his favored position of point guard. Though Lucas started for the Gators, he was moved out of his natural position to that of the shooting guard in the starting rotation, because teammate Nick Calathes was favored at the point guard position. He averaged just below double figures in scoring, and also has 2.3 assists per game. In November 2008, Lucas announced his intentions to transfer from Florida.[3] Jai Lucas announced his intention to transfer to Texas on December 28, 2008.

Jai Lucas
Lucas with Texas in November 2010
Kentucky Wildcats
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (1988-12-05) December 5, 1988
Houston, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High schoolBellaire (Houston, Texas)
College
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2011–2013
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2016–present
Career history
As player:
2011–2012BK Valmiera
2012–2013Idaho Stampede
2013Sioux Falls Skyforce
2013Canton Charge
As coach:
2016–2020Texas (assistant)
2020–presentKentucky (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Lucas is from a well-known basketball family. His father, John Lucas II, was an All-American at Maryland who went on to a 14-year career in the NBA and was later head coach of three NBA teams. His older brother, John Lucas III, was a star at Baylor and Oklahoma State who played two seasons for the Houston Rockets, then continued his career in Italy, and most recently played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.[4]

On January 2, 2013, Lucas was waived by the Idaho Stampede.[5] On January 11, 2013, Lucas was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[6] He was then waived by the Skyforce on January 21. On March 30, 2013, Lucas was acquired by the Canton Charge.[7]

In August 2013, the Texas Longhorns hired him as an assistant coach on the staff of Rick Barnes. Lucas assists in all internal operations of the basketball program.[8] Lucas was retained by Barnes' successor, Shaka Smart, in 2015. He later was hired at the University of Kentucky under John Calipari as a special assistant.[9] In September 2020, he became an official on-court assistant.[10]

References
  1. Jai Lucas Stats, Bio – ESPN
  2. ESPN - Rosters set for 2007 McDonald's All-American Games - College Sports
  3. Lucas decides to transfer from Florida
  4. Lucas O'Neill, "Profile: Jai Lucas (Bellaire, Texas)", Sports Illustrated, December 5, 2006.
  5. STAMPEDE TRADE FOR BROWN, DRAFT PICK Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Skyforce Acquires Lucas
  7. Charge Acquire Jai Lucas
  8. Texas Longhors basketball: Jai Lucas hired as special assistant
  9. "Jai Lucas Added to UK Men's Basketball Staff". Kentucky Wildcats. August 31, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  10. Pilgrim, Jack (November 2, 2020). "Jai Lucas on Calipari's shuffling of coaching roles: "We have to stay ahead of the curve"". Kentucky Sports Radio. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
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