December 3, 2008

Chris Nee
Warchant.com

In Leonard Hamilton's time at Florida State, it could be argued that he has had only one true, pure point guard prior to this season. That changed when Hamilton signed Luke Loucks. Now enrolled and enjoying his freshman season, Loucks finds himself averaging 2.6 assists per game, with at least one assist in every game, while averaging 22.3 minutes played per game.

"I honestly didn't think it would be this much," Loucks said of his playing time before laughing and adding. "I guess (coach) wasn't lying to me when he was recruiting me."

Loucks, who is second on the team in assists and steals, has caught some of his veteran teammate's off-guard.

"He has surprised me actually," senior guard Toney Douglas said. "He is just doing whatever it takes to win and he is playing his role."

The role which the Clearwater, Fla., native plays is one that benefits Douglas a great deal.

"We knew coming into the season that it was going to be important for us to have the opportunity to give Toney a little more offensive freedom during certain parts of the game," Hamilton said. "Having Luke, who is a pure point guard, who is really a pass-first kind of guy who takes pride in being the quarterback on the floor, that would really see the floor and the entire team, it gives us a very comfortable feeling to have someone like him out there."

During the Seminoles' 7-0 start, Loucks has continued to show improvement but it hasn't always come easily for him as he has had to make the transition to the speed of the collegiate level.

"It was tough at first especially on the defensive side," Loucks said. "Offensively everybody was telling me that if you are headsmart you can pretty much do anything, it doesn't matter if you are slow. ? Defensively it has been really tough, I have really had to learn a lot and I am going to have to keep growing on defense."

While he is averaging just over five points per game, the benefits that Loucks brings on the offensive end are evident to his head coach with his ability to set up the offense.

"He is smart and he has a great feel for the game," Hamilton said. "He has spent an awful lot of time working on his perimeter shooting and he has gotten better with that. Now he is confident that if he is left open, he can knock it down. That is what you need to see from a guy who is really the quarterback, the distributor."

Being a quarterback isn't unfamiliar to Loucks. During his prep career, he was a two-sport athlete lining up under center on the football field. Now, focusing only on basketball, he has become the quarterback for the Seminoles' offense and a welcomed addition to the backcourt.

"Luke has been a real big help for me knowing that I have another ball handler out there on the court," Douglas said. "It is really helpful because I know when he is not in there with me I have to go back and get the ball but when he is with me, it doesn't matter who gets it because we both know both positions and we play off of each other."

Over the Seminoles four wins in the Global Sports Classic, Loucks averaged 7.5 points per game and 2.8 assists. More than anything, he is becoming comfortable with his surroundings, a roster loaded with long athletes who are capable of getting out on the break.

"Coach said he was going to surround me with athletes and that is what he has really done," Loucks said. "That is like a dream for a point guard to have a lot of athletes around you who can score."

While Loucks is getting comfortable with the higher level of play and his new teammates, he has a daily reminder of just how good you have to be at this level.

"I make sure he goes against me every day in practice," Douglas said. "He handles himself pretty good on defense. He is always going to keep working hard on getting better on his defense because the ACC is a guard league. He has been working on that during practice and after practice."

Battling daily with an All-ACC candidate like Toney Douglas has tested Loucks, and at times admittedly frustrated him, but he is quick to point out it has helped to make him a better player.

"That is really where I learned that I have to sit in a stance," Loucks said of defending Douglas. "Toney is one of the fastest guys in the nation, if you aren't in a stance he is going to blow right by you. Going up against him every day has been really good for me and I know it is going to be good for me in the long run."

Most of all though, it is a hunger to improve as a point guard that will likely lead to even more success for Loucks, and the Seminoles, down the road.

"His attitude and his coaching. Somebody yells at him he takes it in, he doesn't hold a grudge or anything like that," Douglas said. "He just wants to learn. All he wants to do is win."

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