Williamson Returning For Another Run

Loyola Vet Carrying the Culture

(St. Louis, MO) – Lucas Williamson is returning for another run. The Loyola Chicago graduating senior is taking advantage of the NCAA’s offer of an extra year of eligibility. He and his Rambler teammates will have a new coaching staff led by Drew Valentine but the roster will look very familiar.

Williamson is the Missouri Valley Conference’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and was a second team all-Valley member. The Chicago native is just 119 points shy of 1,000 career points and wants to lead this team to more postseason success.

After three Missouri Valley regular season championships, two Arch Madness titles and historic NCAA Tournament success, Williamson feels blessed to have achieved great success. He calls the ability to return a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to continue to play with his fellow Ramblers.

 

 

Returning for Another Run

This season’s LUC squad is filled with veteran talent. Fellow seniors Keith Clemons, Aher Uguak (third-team and all-defensive squad) and Tate Hall are taking advantage of the additional eligibility. Other accomplished veterans Braden Norris (all-newcomer team) and Marquise Kennedy (all-bench team) are key components from last year’s Sweet Sixteen team.

Talented newcomers and developing younger players give this year’s team the look of a true contender for more postseason activity.

While head coach Porter Moser has left for the same position at Oklahoma, Williamson believes new coach Drew Valentine will continue the Rambler culture and the team will continue to succeed.

 

 

Winning championships and playing in the NCAA Tournament continue to be the LUC goals. Williamson says they have the right components to challenge for a conference title and he believes the Valley will be loaded this coming season.

 

 

I asked him if he tried to persuade his roommate, Cameron Krutwig to return.

 

 

Returning Rivals 

Entering into his fifth season Williamson has great respect for opposing Valley players and programs. Indiana State’s Tyreke Key, Northern’s Trae Berhow and Missouri State’s Gaige Prim are extra eligibility returners. Drake (26-5) head coach Darian DeVries says several of his seniors are taking advantage of the extra opportunity. According to godrakebulldogs.com Roman Penn, Tremell Murphy, ShanQuan Hemphill, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Brodie are graduating seniors that are on the roster for the coming season.

Eleven of the league’s top 15 players are scheduled to return. Since all five of the Valley’s all-newcomer team members and all-five the conference’s all-freshman teamers return, the league may be as competitive as ever.

Williamson says rivals like Northern Iowa and individual showdowns with the likes of Key and others will make this a special season.

 

 

The Missouri Valley sent two teams to last season’s NCAA Tournament. While Loyola was reaching the tournament’s Sweet Sixteen, Drake also won a tournament game. The league’s top scorer (Isiaih Mosley) and rebounder (Prim) both play at Missouri State. UNI’s former player of the year A.J. Green returns after an injury plagued year.

Williamson’s Leadership

Williamson is committed to being a contagious leader. While he is a stellar leader on the court, Williamson has demonstrated that same kind of character off the court. During last year’s racially charged summer Williamson took it upon himself to speak out and to help others navigate those difficult times.

 

 

Williamson and numerous Valley stars are returning for another run. The Rambler culture is alive and well in the hands of first-year head coach Drew Valentine and in team leader Lucas Williamson.

Our entire conversation can be heard here.

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Editor: Featured photo courtesy of NCAA Photos 2021