In 2022, Lucas Prolla was Corinthians' main scorer at the U18 level, and one of the best-known shooters in Brazil. Even so, the point guard was not called up to the Brazilian team that would compete in the U18 AmeriCup, from which he had already been cut during the preparation for the U17 South American Championship. Both decisions, by Vitor Galvani, were considered a mistake by the fans. Many players, from that same group that would travel to Tijuana, believed that Prolla could be among the 12 called up.
Well, on May 21st of that same year, the squad called up by Galvani trained at Parque São Jorge. On that Saturday night, Corinthians U18 faced Mogi U18 in an unimportant game, and without Samis Calderon and Vitor Galvani, it was up to Lucas Prolla to make the game his own. Thus, in 36 minutes, he scored 47 points, made 8 of 12 attempts from 3PT, and led Timão to a 25-point win, with everyone in the Seleção in the crowd.
His scoring record remains intact in Corinthians basketball history.
Months later, he would commit to AZ Compass, a Prep School that has already developed three NBA players and 51 NCAA DI prospects. He spent some time there, which went well. However, he suffered from bureaucratic problems that removed him from the team's main roster and limited his success in the college basketball recruiting process.
Thus, he chose the path of junior college. Prolla evolved on the court and had a starring season for the MSUWP Grizzlies, until a cruel foot injury and recovery surgery took him off the court.
Even so, some know the unknown star from afar, and Dru Joyce III knew it. LeBron James' first great point guard chose Lucas Prolla, and the Brazilian committed to Duquesne. Prolla will play for the Dukes as a walk-on. With the dream of debuting for the current Atlantic-10 champion and a bracket buster in last year's March Madness, Lucas spoke about the most decisive moment of his career.
INTERVIEW
How do you describe your trip to the US from the AZ Compass to the Duquesne offer?
“From 2022, when I left Corinthians, until 2024, when I'm going to Duquesne, there were two very turbulent and revealing years on and off the court. It was all a rollercoaster of ups and downs. My experience at AZ Compass was incredible but entirely different for me, and I played in junior college too. I had a lot more protagonism, and while at AZ Compass, I changed my playing style a lot, and I managed to be myself again on the court that year in Missouri. I had surgery, which made me find myself very active on the court. Now arriving at Duquesne, I hope to be able to maximize my experiences on and off the court with the NCAA.”
What do you expect from Duquesne? What do you think about the opportunity to play for Dru Joyce?
“I want to win; I wish to play in March Madness; I would like to win the conference, but I aim to find my role on the court and how I can impact the game. Whether it's with my basketball IQ or my shooting, I hope to impact the game, add, and bring a different energy to the team. I think everyone on the cast brings something different, and I want to find my own at Duquesne. Ultimately, I want it to be an experience that I look back on and never forget—something that impacts my life forever.”
What is your biggest goal in basketball?
“My dream has always been to play DI, and this happening is very gratifying for me, something I think about every night. I think the next step is to play in March Madness. Speaking of basketball, that's my biggest dream, and I think this team is wonderful for that and has all the pieces to achieve it. I don't know how far basketball can take me; obviously, I think I can have some good professional opportunities and see what's best for me after college. The most important thing is to be centered and focused, and luckily, at university, I can take advantage of two good opportunities (athletic and academic).”
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