“I decided to play and commit to Stony Brook [University],” said sophomore guard Lucas Woodhouse.
Woodhouse has been working on this decision since March 12 when it was announced that he would not be returning to Longwood University for his junior season.
He has decided to take his career back to his roots and play in Long Island, N.Y. at Division I, America East Conference school Stony Brook University.
On Sunday, April 6, Woodhouse’s former high school coach Chris Agostino tweeted the news about Woodhouse transferring to play for the Stony Brook Seawolves.
“A great day for HF boys basketball and LI hoops @ el_woodhouse is coming home to play for Stony Brook University basketball #proudofhim,” tweeted Agostino.
Stony Brook has had three consecutive 20 win seasons, but has not been able to come out of the America East Tournament.
This is something Woodhouse would like to help them with.
“I just want to bring an extra edge to be able to win a championship. I want to just go there to win a championship; whatever I can do to help the team, whether it’s distribute the ball or get other guys involved,” said Woodhouse. “I just want to make people better. Do whatever I can to win a championship.”
“Lucas helps them become a little bit better because of his specialties; he’s a pass first point guard, and that’s what really makes him unique. Lucas is not an individual that would have trouble fitting in anywhere because he’s so unselfish,” said Agostino.
The biggest factor in Woodhouse’s decision was the fact that he wanted to be back home where his family and friends are only a train ride away and can come see him play.
“You always dream about playing in front of family and friends, especially at the Division I level,” said Woodhouse.
According to Woodhouse, Stony Brook is only 20 minutes away from his home.
Another reason for his decision was to get more of the big school atmosphere, such as football games and homecoming.
He also wanted more of a community feel, rather than the city, urban area he would have dealt with at the other schools around his home that were interested in him.
During Woodhouse’s junior year of high school, Stony Brook was showing interest in him, but at the time they believed he had parts of his game that needed to be worked on and improved and that he didn’t quite fit their style of play at the time.
According to Agostino, the biggest factor in Stony Brook coming back and reaching out to Woodhouse is because of how much he has matured physically.
“He’s gotten much stronger and he got his defense better during his time at Longwood,” said Agostino. “They’ve done a great job at showing him [that in order] to play at a college level ... he has to become a good defender.”
Stony Brook gave Woodhouse a call once they heard about him receiving his release.
“They liked me, they liked how I matured in the two years I was here [at Longwood], how I showed that I can score more and stuff like that,” said Woodhouse.
Stony Brook’s 2013 America East Coach of the Year Steve Pikiell was the only person in contact with Woodhouse from the Seawolves organization.
“He just wants a guy that can distribute the ball. He wants a guy that can pass the ball, get other guys involved, to help their other players. They already have a very good point guard there, so they just want people to complement each other to make the team better,” said Woodhouse.
Woodhouse doesn’t care whether or not he starts for the Seawolves; he just plans on helping in any way that they need in order to win.
He was also attracted to the fast paced style of play the Seawolves have.
“I just know they play real hard and in the year off, I’m going to learn the system,” said Woodhouse.
Woodhouse also believes that playing for Stony Brook can aid him in playing professional basketball because there have been nine players during Pikiell’s time at Stony Brook that have gone on to play professionally overseas.
“I do believe I can develop my game, especially with the year off. [I can] work on things like size, getting in the weight room and just being comfortable with the system for the next two years to give it my best shot,” said Woodhouse.
Woodhouse will go to Stony Brook as an undeclared student, just focusing on pulling his grades up to the best that they can be.
Longwood will still be missed by Woodhouse as he goes on to the next stage of his career path.
“The people here are great. My friends that I’ve made and the relationships I’ve built have been awesome,” said Woodhouse.
Woodhouse will be doing all he can to help the Seawolves win a championship, and achieve his ultimate goal of playing in the NCAA tournament.
