OLSM Grad and MSU Basketball Star Kalin Lucas Signs with Greek Team

Former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory and Michigan State University basketball player Kalin Lucas signed a contract with Greek professional team Olympiacos on Friday.

Lucas, 22, of Sterling Heights was a 2007 Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News All-State Dream Team honoree at OLSM, averaging 22.6 points, 6.8 assists, 6.1 rebounds and four steals and leading the team to a 22-3 record as well as to an appearance in the Class A regional finals his senior year.

Lucas was then a four-year starting point guard at MSU who helped the Spartans reach the 2009 NCAA Tournament championship game. He is expected to play major minutes for the Euroleague powerhouse club based in Piraeus in the absence of former Euroleague MVP and point guard Miloš Teodosić, who left the club this spring as a free agent.

Lucas’ agent, Michael Whitaker of Washington, DC-based Reid Sports Promotions, said that although Lucas had never been outside of the country before, he is excited for the opportunity to play major minutes and to live outside the United States.

“I’ve seen him play since his freshman year at State, and never once have I seen him play with any fear in his eyes. I expect it to be that way in Greece,” Whitaker said Sunday. “I have a partner who lives in Greece, and Kalin already has a relationship with him, to smooth out that transition.”

Whitaker said that although NBA teams had expressed interest in inviting Lucas to try out after June 23, the league's lockout declared July 1 dashed hopes of Lucas playing in the NBA this season.

“This is a great opportunity for him," Whitaker said. "There were some teams that would have given him a chance to participate in summer league, and (the lockout) is disappointing, but he’s very happy now to get a chance to play.”

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.