Victoria Lucas-Perry’s invited to the 2007 WNBA Pre-Draft Camp at Cleveland State University!

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Victoria Lucas-Perry’s entrance to the University of Michigan Dental School may be delayed a bit. The Michigan State guard is one of

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Victoria Lucas-Perry’s entrance to the University of Michigan Dental School may be delayed a bit. The Michigan State guard is one of 30 players that have been invited to the 2007 WNBA Pre-Draft Camp at Cleveland State University on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31. She is one of four players from the Big Ten Conference, along with Penn State’s Amanda Brown, Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport and Purdue’s Katie Gearlds, to be invited to the camp. 

        

“It’s great for Victoria,” Michigan State head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “It’s a great opportunity. It is one that she has earned through heard work, getting stronger, getting better and also really having a much more physical senior year. We’re very excited for her.” 

        

Lucas-Perry (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic), an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 4 Second Team selection, finished the year ninth in the conference in scoring (13.5), 17th in rebounds (6.0) and fifth in steals (2.24). The tri-captain led the team in scoring 12 times and scored in double figues 22 times. 

        

Besides averaging career highs in points (13.5), rebounds (6.0) and assists (2.6), Lucas-Perry maintained a 3.6 GPA as a finance major, earning her three Academic All-Big Ten honors. The Preseason Naismith Trophy Candidate scored 15 or more points in 12 games, including a 20-point effort at No. 1 Maryland and an 18-point effort against No. 6 LSU on Dec. 17. She has also shattered previous career bests in total points (447), rebounds (199), assists (84), steals (74) and 3-pointers (56). 

        

Lucas-Perry has worked to be that complete player for three years, averaging just 13.3 minutes per game and 4.0 points as a freshman. As a sophomore, she started 28 games for the Spartans, becoming a pivotal compliment in the backcourt to the Sacramento Monarchs’ Kristin Haynie and European professional Lindsay Bowen. 

        

Playing with the two Kodak/WBCA Honorable Mention All-Americans only helped the 5-9 Flint, Mich., native, as her scoring jumped to 10.2 points per game as a junior and her relentless hustle helped earn her a slot on Coach P’s Team USA U-20 team at the FIBA Americas Championships in the summer. She averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds during the tournament, leading the team to the gold medal. 

        

She returned to campus and became the team’s top scoring threat, leading the team with an average of 13.5 points. She not only scored 20 or more points eight times, but also willed the team to wins even on days where she didn’t score thanks to her rebounding. Against Purdue, she spurred a 17-point comeback, not with her seven points, but her 11 rebounds. 

        

The pre-draft camp is part of the festivities surrounding the Women’s Final Four at Quicken Loans Arena this weekend. The camp offers coaches and general managers from all 13 WNBA teams an opportunity to evaluate the top young players in advance of the 2007 WNBA Draft presented by adidas set to take place in Cleveland on April 4. The prospects will showcase their skills and compete against one another in drills, half-court scenarios and full-court scrimmages during three on-court sessions. 

        

The 2007 draft will begin at 1 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland.  ESPN2 will provide exclusive first round coverage of the Draft with continued coverage of the second and third rounds on ESPNU and NBA TV. In addition, WNBA.com will cover all three rounds, providing complete analysis and comprehensive information on all 13 teams’ selections. 

        

Lucas-Perry is a part of a group of four seniors that set a school record with 103 wins during their four years in the Green and White. The quartet helped the program to four NCAA Tournament Second Round appearances. All four players had career years in 2006-07, with Lucas-Perry and Rene Haynes each passing the 1,000-point mark. 

        

“We’re busy with our seniors trying to get them opportunities for next year,” McCallie said. “Rene (Haynes) has a possibility of making it to a tryout with a WNBA team. We are putting tapes together for Myisha (Bannister) for the possibility of playing overseas, and Katrina (Grantham) is looking to get into graduate school.” 

 Props to Joe Gustina for this.