Tornado follows familiar family path and picks FSU

Clearwater High's Luke Loucks, one of the nation's top-rated junior point guards, orally committed to Florida State on Thursday evening.

By JOE SMITH
Published June 1, 2007

CLEARWATER - Clearwater High's Luke Loucks, one of the nation's top-rated junior point guards, orally committed to Florida State on Thursday evening.

Loucks had narrowed his dozen-plus scholarship offers to FSU, Georgia Tech, USF and St. Joseph's a month ago, but the 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior-to-be said, in the end, "all the arrows pointed" to the Seminoles, who had recruited him from the beginning.

Loucks said FSU coach Leonard Hamilton cracked a joke about the long, nerve-wracking courtship Thursday.

"I can grow all my hair out again now, " Hamilton told Loucks. "I lost it all waiting in suspense for you."

Loucks, a Times' first-team all-Suncoast selection, averaged 15 points and seven assists last season for the Tornadoes, who advanced to the region playoffs. Recruiters raved about Loucks' prolific passing and basketball IQ; rivals.com ranked him as the eighth-best junior point guard.

"They always have a great recruiting class and great players, " Loucks said of FSU. "They're in the ACC and Hamilton is a great guy. It was just a great fit."

The decision pleased Loucks' Seminole-friendly family, which gathered Thursday evening for a celebration barbecue. Loucks' dad, Lincoln, and uncles Scott and Bill each attended FSU. Even the 17-year-old's Clearwater church was rooting for the Seminoles.

Loucks took several visits, including trips to Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, USF and UCF. But his first - to FSU - hooked him from the start.

Loucks said he always wanted to make his college choice early, relieving him of the sometimes taxing recruiting burdens (and thousands of text messages) before his senior year. But one decision he said he will wait on is whether he'll play football in the fall.

Loucks, also a Times second-team all-county quarterback, has received interest from Division I schools for football. He said he'll think about it the next three months while he enjoys "being a kid again."

"If (FSU basketball coaches) are real consistent about me not playing (football), I'll respect that, " Loucks said. "I'll be part of their family now."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8129.

[Last modified May 31, 2007, 21:45:30]