Jai Lucas Joins Texas Coaching Staff as Special Assistant

AUSTIN, Texas — Former University of Texas player Jai Lucas (first name is pronounced: Jay) has been named Special Assistant, The University of Texas Basketball program announced Thursday. In this newly-created position, Lucas joins fellow Special AssistantsBryan Lentz and William Wyatt on the UT coaching staff.

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The 24-year-old Lucas began his official employment at Texas on Aug. 5. He will assist in all internal operations of the basketball program.

Prior to joining the Texas coaching staff, Lucas spent the previous three seasons playing professionally. He played two seasons in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), where he saw action with the Idaho Stampede (2012-13) and the Canton Charge (2013), and one year overseas in Latvia with BK Valmiera in the Baltic Basketball League (2011-12).

A guard who played in 58 career games (one start) during his two seasons at UT (2009-10 and 2010-11), Lucas scored a total of 169 points and recorded a 70-to-40 assist-to-turnover ratio in 662 minutes played while helping the Longhorns to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He earned his bachelor’s degree in corporate communication in 2011 from UT.

Lucas spent his freshman season (2007-08) and the Fall 2008 semester at The University of Florida and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. He started all 36 games for the Gators as a freshman, helping Florida post a 24-12 record and advance to the Postseason NIT semifinals. He transferred from Florida and enrolled in classes at Texas beginning in the Spring 2009 semester.

A 2007 graduate of Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas, he was a McDonald’s All-American, a Jordan All-American and a Parade All-America Second Team selection as a senior. Lucas was a three-year starter and three-time District 21-5A Player of the Year who led Bellaire to three consecutive District 21-5A titles.

Born Dec. 5, 1988, Lucas is a native of Houston, Texas.