Among his teammates, 6-foot-5-inch senior Jeryn Lucas is standing out and having a major impact this season. Lucas leads the Wildcats in overall points scored as well as averaging 11.1 points per game over an 18 game series. Not only is Lucas making a statement at CWU, but he also made an impact at his previous school. Lucas transferred from Yuba City Community College located in Marysville, California where he averaged 15.6 points per game. 

“Community college is more everyone-for-themselves and trying to get out to the next level,” Lucas said. “Where as DII is building a family and getting acclimated to the culture.” 

The Wildcats are led by head coach Brandon Rinta, who has coached Lucas since he transferred to CWU for last year’s season. Lucas was also the team’s highest scorer last year, averaging 12.5 points per game.

“[Lucas] is a very fun-loving guy,” Rinta said. “Somebody [that], if we were the same age, I would love to hang out with.”

Rinta said Lucas is a very gifted basketball player and has the ability to score the basketball in a lot of different ways. Rinta said especially with his size, he can be a mismatch depending on who they are going to put on him defensively game to game. 

“It’s very hard for guys to improve from their junior to senior year, offensively,” Rinta said. “He’s taken as big a step as anybody that I’ve seen offensively.”

Lucas said one of his biggest improvements in the last couple years was his decision making. He also said he is a shooter but wants to continue to work on the defensive end of the ball. 

For some athletes it’s about playing at their home court, but with Lucas that’s not the case. Lucas said he would rather play on the road than in Ellensburg.

“You don’t have the pressure of the home crowd,” Lucas said. “When you win games away, it’s just a better feeling.” 

With his scoring ability, Lucas has made his mark at CWU on the basketball court. Rinta said the team will be losing a guy that keeps the team “loose off the court.” He also said Lucas has been a big part of what we have done over the past couple years. 

“He’s a player that the other team has to gameplan for,” Rinta said. “Because of that he makes the other players better.” 

On Jan. 23 the Wildcats battled against Concordia, resulting in a win 65-56 for CWU. Lucas contributed majorly with 10 points, three rebounds and one assist. Lucas’s best game on the offensive side this season was against Linfield. Lucas had 30 points, five rebounds and four assists. 

Lucas, along with the rest of the Wildcats, will be playing in their next home game against Simon Fraser University on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. followed by another home game against Western Washington University on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:15 p.m.