Jacques Lukusa is taking his talents to Markham, Ontario and joining the Bill Crothers Colts.

Coach Charles Hantoumakos led his Colts to an eye opening 36-6 record in 2013-14. Now coach Hantoumakos welcomes Lukasa the Ottawa, ON native point guard.

Lukasa had a strong spring with the Ottawa Guardsmen in the CYBL and followed it up with an even stronger AAU period travelling with Toronto based club Northern Kings.

To develop in students the love of sport through learning, and the love of learning through sport is the Colts motto, and just that is what Lukasa has aspirations to do. This heart over size point guard is one of the top point guards in his class. He has as an uncanny knack for scoring and now sense of urgency to play a significant role for the Colts and their independent schedule composed of the top competition in Canada and America.

With that said I had the privilege to catch up with the newly accepted Colt ahead of the 2014-15 campaign in a detailed Q & A:

Sonny: First and foremost you’re in the same conversation as top point guards in the 2016 class with names like Howard Washington Jr (City Rocks) and Keshon Montague (Grassroots) All three of you have something in common being you’ve previously played for power house CIA Bounce then moved on. You made the most recent switch to Northern Kings, how did that happen and how was your summer? As expected or even better?

Jacques: Thanks to Michael Simonetta, he was a big part as to why I made that switch. I knew him for a while. He was just like come, we really want you to be here. He knew what type of player I am, he knew what I like to run in transition and it just made sense for me and my family. This past summer was pretty good. In Las Vegas we lost in the quarters but we did pretty good and I was able to do my thing out there. Also in Philly at a Hoop Group tournament we made it to the finals and lost to a really good team I respect the DC Thunder who played a really good game.

Sonny: How about your tenure with the Ottawa Guardsmen, your somewhat a product of coach Dave Smart. He has a reputation as the John Wooden of CIS basketball. Your thoughts on being under his tutelage out in the nation’s capital?

Jacques: Yes, he is just a basketball feign. I think he knows everything about the game of basketball. Just talking to him you feel like you’re learning in the classroom and he definitely knows a lot about basketball and I liked him for that. Every question I had I would go through him and he always helped how to show me what to do and taught me how I can get better every single day.

Sonny: How about Team Canada, many folks out there surprised you weren’t on that squad, does missing the U17 World Championships make you a little more head strong?

Jacques: I was there I just had some problems with my papers and birth certificate so I had to leave the training camp. That’s something though were getting on top off for sure this year so when the U19 comes up ill definitely be out there for that one.

Sonny: In terms of your playing style, any players you model your game after? Or aspire to play like?

Jacques: Yeah, I model my game after guys like Chris Paul or like Derrick Rose just because Chris Paul is so smooth and I’m his height. I just feel like we kind of do the same things like the inside and out crossovers, floaters, pull-ups. He’s a really good player that I look up to.

Lukusa’s scoring ability was unmatched in Ottawa with Immaculata. He can shoot the 3-pointer, he can drive, and he also possesses a mid-range game

Sonny: Bill Crothers now, congratulations! One of the top schools in Canada. You now have the opportunity to utilize their top notch facility and perhaps excel in the two guard offensive system coach Charles did amazing things with last season. Also tough shoes to fill with Trey Bell Haynes (Vermont) and Rashawne Brown (New Mexico St) both gone. Your thoughts on that switch and the challenge your about to embark on?

Jacques: I de-committed from Mingos Central simply because the head coach left the program. After that Coach Charles hit me up and said hey why not, we want you out here. With Trey and Rashawne moving on to college there is definitely shoes to fill at point guard. I mean I was like why not, I felt like that Coach Charles and I had a really good relationship, both coach Charles there and they really made me feel that they loved my game and I really loved how they coach so I felt they would look after me. Together we can have another really good year. One thing I love is we will play in some big tournaments and play against some NEPSAC team’s which I’m looking forward to.

Sonny: For the record and for the folks in the Greater Toronto Area who are not as familiar with your body of work, what can the Toronto people expect from you in 2014-15?

Jacques: Trying to come in prepared and help make the team better by achieving big things with the team. Obviously do what I do best which is scoring and getting my guys better but I would like to come in and fill the shoes of Trey Bell Haynes and hopefully continue to do what he did and be the greatest I can be and keep the tradition alive.

Sonny: College recruitment wise, your window is still wide open with two years of high school still available. That said any schools early in the process recruiting you the hardest?

Jacques: USC and Fairfield are probably coming at me the hardest. Other schools like Toldeo, Memphis and Minnesota have looked at me.

Sonny: My favorite question now, any school(s) you maybe grew up liking most as a kid?

Jacques: Probably UCLA and have to say Syracuse. Cuse because guys like Tyler Ennis and Johnny Flynn came out of there and I keep my eye on them because they have produced some point guards I admired who made the NBA.

Sonny: Last but not least your Ottawa roots. Olivier Hanlan, Kevin Zabo, Marial Shayok, Kevin Ndahiro and Eddie Ekiyor all hail from Ottawa aka Cap City. Does representing Ottawa where ever basketball takes you mean a lot to you?

Jacques: For sure, that’s where I grew up and everywhere I go people look at me as a person from Ottawa so I have to represent it the right way. Those guys are my brothers Olivier, Kevin even Malick Turenne (22 FT Academy) we all want to hear about each other doing big things and grinding for Ottawa.

There you have it. America you have been warned, Jacques Lukusa is a man on a mission looking to make his name bigger and the already large reputation of Bill Crothers even bigger and better. 36 and 6 in 2013-14 doesn’t leave much margin for error but Lukusa is ready for the challenge and the next step of his journey that should ultimately land him in the NCAA ranks.

To follow 2016 6’0 Jacques Lukasa on his journey ti the NCAA follow him on twitter at @JacquesLukusa

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