Jai Lucas Considers Bailing on Florida

Jai Lucas, a prep point guard originally from Bellaire, Texas is facing a bit of a dilemma regarding his athletic future as well as his college education as reported by Louisville, Kentucky based newspaper, The Courier Journal [http://www.courier-journal.com].

What dilemma is Lucas facing? He wishes to be released from the national letter of intent that he had originally signed with Florida in order to consider somewhere else for a "collegiate destination," The Courier Journal reported that Lucas could even be considering the University of Kentucky if he can pull out of the obligation he has signed into for the Florida Gators basketball program.

The Courier Journal reported that Lucas had a few things to say during a phone interview yesterday afernoon. With original Gators coach moving to bigger with his new stint as head coach for the NBA's Orlando Magic, the Florida University is now in search for a new basketball to replace Billy Donovan. Lucas however describes his dilemma mostly as being "in a waiting pattern."

"I'm going to see who the new coach is and talk to him and then see what I want to do from there. I've talked to the athletic director at Florida - Jeremy Foley, and he's been really good about the whole situation."

Originally choosing the Florida University over others which included the University of Kentucky as well as Oklahoma State, Lucas has yet to decide he'll go forward as planned with releasing himself from the obligation that he signed with the Florida Gators athletic program.

However, Lucas is not without a little peer pressure as he's recieved a telephone call from a University of Kentycky signee, Patric Patterson. Patterson chose Kentucky over Florida due to the fear of Donovan heading to coach in the NBA which eventually became a reality.

"Patterson was giving me a hard time about it. He said 'I told you this was going to happen.' He told me to just come on down to Kentucky with him."

More about Lucas and his dilemma can be found at http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/SPORTS03/70601030.