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Scouting Report: Jai Lucas Texas Longhorns Basketball Commit

Posted by Trips Right on December 28th, 2008 under Basketball, Recruiting

Now that Jai is officially a Horn, I made a phone call and talked to my friend to get a scouting report on Jai. Here are his thoughts:

Jai’s a tough, tenacious player that won’t back down from anybody big or small.

Better on ball defender than his brother. Better on ball defender than AJ Abrams.

Good creativity off the bounce. Will make plays for Texas when things break down.

Gets other people involved but can score the basketball better than most lead guards.

Can flat out shoot. Not quite the shooter his brother is but a better all around guard and scorer. Remember, his brother led a team to a final four.

Tremendous competitor that has already been through the wars of major college basketball. Can step right in and complement a talented team.

We’ll get an interview with Jai sometime in the next couple days, so this is a good time to post your questions for the Houston star.

Welcome to Texas, Jai.

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26 Responses

  1. 98 said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    how do the numbers work if james doesn’t leave?
    i know it is a big if.

  2. Nick Denton said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    From what I remember, his father is kind of a fucktaster. Is this still the case, or are we supposed to like him now?

  3. Trips Right said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    His dad is no friend of Texas with respect to the Houston scene, but this might be an indication that the tide is turning.

  4. Trips Right said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    I think it’s an indication of Brown not getting to Austin, more than anything.

  5. PatronSaint said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    For the people that know nothing, is his brother the Lucas guy from Okie State’s final four team?

  6. Trips Right said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Yes, sorry. High basketball IQ kids.

  7. horn1 said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    If Lucas can turn out to be more of the PG that we all wanted Abrams to be, then he be a huge success.

    Also, if Lucas is successful at Texas, then hopefully that will help us in recruiting the Houston area. John Lucas Sr. has a ton of pull.

  8. Vasherized said:

    December 28th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Jai Alai is his first sport.

  9. CallKevin said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 6:56 am

    5-11 Guards with fathers who have control issues, 2.3 assists and 1.6 turnovers in 30.1 mpg on the stat sheet, and get angry over their role in the offense are not guys I look at and say “future star PG.” Sure reads like AJ all over again.

  10. hiphopopotamus said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 7:11 am

    I can’t quite figure him out. Seems to have the tools to be a great PG, but I’m still really confused why he left Florida.

    Could very well be a great get for you guys, though he’d help out a lot more if you had him this year.

  11. 6th Street said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 7:28 am

    he left Florida for 2 reasons:
    1) he wanted to play the point, and Donovan committed to Nick Calathes as his starting PG at the beginning of the year. They wanted to play Jai at the 2, but they had a couple other talented kids there as well, and with Kenny Boynton coming in there next year to play the 2, there was going to be decreasing opportunities for him at FLA.

    2) he was a little homesick and wanted to play back at a place closer to his family.

  12. The General said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am

    If AJ Abrams Part Deux is the absolute downside for this kid, I will take it.

  13. Trips Right said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am

    Again, he’ll come in and be the best lead guard prospect we have on our roster. Springmann begged for this kid.

  14. The General said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am

    . . . and fill a huge hole until we recruit a 2010 or 2011 point.

  15. JustAnotherGuy said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Am I wrong in understanding he won’t be able to play until the second half of season next year?

  16. sl xpress said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    He’ll be able to play once the fall semester is done with. That’s usually around mid December.

    Not a big fan of the pickup, but it’s done now. I’ll hope for the best. I’d take AJ Abrams for 2 1/2 years over Jai Lucas in a heartbeat, and I’m not exactly Abrams’ biggest fan.

    He gives Texas a point guard who is also an outstanding shooter from the perimeter, and that is something even someone like me has to admit UT wouldn’t have without Lucas on board.

    And he’s also an outstanding student. That’s not the end all be all, but I do feel like it adds some value.

    If he works out at Texas, it’d be nice to have an extra friendly face in the youth basketball scene in this state — particularly one as influential as John Lucas Jr.. As has been reported on this site before by Trips Right, it’s scarce as it is.

    Of course, if he doesn’t work out, John Lucas Jr. could go from neutral to hostile, which is a risk I’d prefer Texas hadn’t taken, but whatever.

  17. JustAnotherGuy said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    Thanks for the information.

  18. sl xpress said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    BTW, not to put you in a bad spot — honestly — but if it can be done in a politically correct way, I’d love to hear your friend’s comparison of Jai Lucas to Tommy Mason-Griffin. I LOVE TMG. I didn’t want him at Texas because of height/small hands issues, but compared to Jai Lucas, who brings some of the same issues only in a less physical, less athletic package, with poorer dribble penetrate skills, he’s a no brainer.

    IMO, TMG is going to prison rape Jai Lucas if they’re matched up against one another.

  19. Trips Right said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    slx, done and done. I’ll have his thoughts in short order.

  20. The General said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    I am looking forward to it.

  21. Trips Right said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    Jai’s more of a system guy. TMG is a better player when he’s dominating the basketball.

    Jai has a high basketball IQ, will get everyone involved, might not get 18 a night but he’ll finish with 12 and 8 dimes, a clutch 3, and foul shots down the stretch. TMG can take over a game but won’t necessarily get other perimeter players involved. Feels TMG’s better when he’s the guy instead of 1 of 3 or 4 options.

    Jai’s more of a vocal leader, coach on the floor. TMG leads by example.

    Physically, TMG is stronger, Jai is a bit quicker, better shooter.

    TMG will be a much better pro, than college player.

    The NBA analogy my friend drew was TMG is more like Chris Paul/Allen Iverson in terms of excelling on teams without very many stars. Jai is more Chauncey Billups in that he’s appreciably better when he’s surrounded by finishers and skilled guys. He’d struggle if he had to be the guy.

    Loves both guys. Seen both guys outplay current NBA guards down for work outs. Can’t go wrong with either one.

    He says the Abrams comparison is apples to oranges. Kalin Lucas couldn’t have nearly shut out Jai. Said Texas rolls MSU with Jai and Mason in the backcourt.

    He texts Capel regularly and said Capel is happy for Jai but sick that he chose Texas.

  22. longhornmatt said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    Are we sure he won’t be able to play until the 2nd semester next year? He didn’t play in any games that counted this year at Florida, only an exhibition game. Wouldn’t that mean he sat out the whole season? Or is it a question of when he enrolled at Texas?

  23. Bob in Houston said:

    December 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Matt, I think it’s the latter.

    He said during last night’s announcement that he will appeal to get the season back. But you have to be in residence a year at the new school. I’d be surprised if the NCAA waived that.

  24. sl xpress said:

    December 31st, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Thanks for the comments, Trips. I think it’s fair to say your friend and I see things differently, but that’s okay. I still appreciate him sharing his thoughts.

  25. Nordberg said:

    December 31st, 2008 at 11:10 am

    What are your hangups on Jai, SLX?

  26. RansomStoddard said:

    January 2nd, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    I don’t see a downside to signing this guy. He can play and other than that it’s a matter of how he fits in.

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