Former Ohio State forward Jerry Lucas will be honored by dotting the ‘i’, but it won’t be on the football field, but instead the hardwood.
Lucas, an NBA Hall of Famer who was a member of the Buckeyes from 1959-62, will be honored with a bronze statue outside of the Schottenstein Center that will be unveiled Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. Although it’s been nearly 25 years since Lucas’ No. 11 was retired by Ohio State, he will be the first Buckeye athlete to have a sculpture outside the arena.
Two days later, during Ohio State’s Nov. 16 matchup with Notre Dame, Lucas will take the court with the fall athletic band for Script Ohio. The honors will come one day after the band performs its same rendition for the football team’s showdown with UCLA Nov. 15. Lucas will be the first basketball player ever to dot the ‘i’.
Lucas was honored when it was revealed that he would get a statue at Ohio State.
“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Lucas told BSB. “I shouldn’t think about it. It might be the biggest honor I’ve ever gotten in my life. I understand certain things have happened (for me), but this is very, very rare to have this happen.”
Lucas is widely considered the best men’s basketball player in Ohio State’s history. The Middletown, Ohio, native was a three-time All-American and two-time national player of the year. He averaged 24.3 points per game over his three years on the varsity roster, totaling 1,990 career points which was the most in school history upon his departure. At the time freshmen weren’t allowed to play on varsity in their first collegiate season. Lucas now ranks third all-time in points scored behind Dennis Hopson (2,096 points) and Herb Williams (2,011).
The 6-9 forward also was a rebounding machine. Lucas grabbed 1,411 rebounds in his career, averaging 17.2 per game — the best in program history by 300 boards.
Lucas helped the Buckeyes earn their only national championship in program history in 1960, while finishing as the nation’s runner-up in the following two seasons.
