TAMIU'S Rising Basketball Star

Ryan McLucas, Texas A&M International University's rising basketball star, was named this year's Most Valued Player in the men's basketball team. We all think very well of this young player and value the recognition he has brought to our university. We thank all the rest of the TAMIU Athletic Department for bringing honor and recognition to our school. It gives a student a great deal of pride to be a part of a university with such astounding teams within men's and women's sports. However, we are focused on a particular individual for helping in bringing the University honor and pride.

            Ryan McLucas, this year's MVP, is a very talented young man, with so much drive and focus. Ryan plays a Guard position for our Men's Basketball team. Ryan is the son of Glenn and Laura McLucas. He grew up in Oxnard, California.  Oxnard is approximately an hour and eleven minutes from the exciting city of Los Angeles, California. Oxnard is to the west of Los Angeles and extremely close to the beach. So it's safe to say that where McLucas grew up was most of the time a day at the beach. McLucas was first introduced to a basketball at the age of three by his father, Glenn McLucas. Ever since his introduction with basketball, Ryan and his older brother have been playing. McLucas graduated in the 2007 from Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard. He briefly attended Oxnard Community College and then transferred to Texas A&M International University.  McLucas is working ona Bachelor's Degree in Communication with a minor in Psychology.

            McLucas said the reason he transferred here was because, "My cousin Will Faivae plays here also he is a major reason why I came here…" he continues to say that another influence in transferring to TAMIU is because "the coaching staff was a big part because they really showed that they care about the players on the court and what we do off the court as young men in our lives after basketball is over with." It seems that we have a very caring coaching staff and for that we are grateful. Ryan, as a athlete, feels that he has matured mentally and now has a better understanding of the game. He continues to express that moving from California to Texas gives him more focus on both his studies and practicing.  

We can say that our University is very lucky to have this young man playing on our team. I would like to praise the athletes, who participate and practice every day, in order to bring pride and honor to our university. We are grateful for having Ryan McLucas, this year's MVP, on our men's basketball team. It is clear that we have some extraordinary talent in all of our athletic departments. A great deal of thanks goes out to our coaching staff, who continue to inspire our athletes and take great care of them on and off the field.