Sunday, October 14, 2001
Dream becomes reality for UC walk-ons
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
From the time he was in eighth grade, Jamaal Lucas knew he wanted to play basketball at the University of Cincinnati. He grew up in Texas but saw enough of the Bearcats on television to appreciate their style of play.
The 6-foot-2 guard was recruited by Tulane and Texas A&M but chose to walk on at UC. He was one of two new non-scholarship players introduced at Midnight Madness.
“I could have had a scholarship,” Lucas said. “But there isn't any use in being somewhere if you don't really want to be there. I knew I wanted to be here, so I took my chances.”
He averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 assists and 3.4 steals a game and was second-team all-state as a senior at Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas.
His uncle attended Louisville and knew UC assistant coach Keith LeGree, who started his college career with the Cardinals before transfering to UC. The uncle called LeGree and told him about Lucas, who said he intends to contribute. "I'm going to play,” he said.
The other first-year walk-on is John Meeker, a 6-1 point guard from Troy High School who averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 assists a game as a senior.
Huggins saw Meeker when he was checking out former Troy players Brooks Hall and Alex Carmona. Meeker was recruited some by Mid-American Conference schools but was not offered a Division I scholarship.
Midway through last season, Huggins told Meeker if he got stronger, maybe he could play at UC.
“It's a once-in-a-lifetime shot; I couldn't turn that down,” Meeker said. “Every kid always sees Cincinnati and thinks, "I'd love to be a Bearcat.'”
UC players call Meeker “Ace,” a nickname given to him by roommate Rod Flowers.
“He said I looked and acted like Ace Ventura, Pet Detective,” Meeker said. “I haven't heard my name "John' in a while.”
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Dream becomes reality for UC walk-ons
