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May 22, 2012

Minnesota State coach Margenthaler adds another D-I transfer

Mavericks’ coach says team done adding to roster this season

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Lucas Brown considered coming to Minnesota State a year ago, but as is often the case, the lure of Division I basketball was strong.

But after a year of sitting on the bench, Brown is more interested in the opportunity to play, not where he plays.

“Once I wasn’t focused on D1 anymore, I was more interested in playing closer to home,” Brown said. “I visited (Minnesota State) last week. I liked the coaching staff, and I knew a lot of guys on the team. It seemed like a good fit.”

Brown, 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, signed with Minnesota State on Monday, in time to join teammates in a summer-league game. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Brown, whose dad, Joel, played football at the University of Minnesota, and his mother, Ellen, played on the Gophers basketball team, ended up at Wofford, where he played in seven games because of injury and scored only two points.

“I’m a slasher,” Brown said. “I like to attack the rim. Defensively, I like to get in your face”

At Roseville Area, he averaged 18 points as a senior, finishing as a finalist for Mr. Basketball.

“We liked him a lot in high school,” Minnesota State coach Matt Margenthaler said. “He’s a perfect fit for the way we play. He’s very explosive and very athletic. He’s an important player that will help us get back to the level where we’ve been.”

Brown considered Minnesota State-Moorhead and Concordia-St. Paul before transferring to Minnesota State.

The Mavericks have added eight players to the roster this offseason. The transfers are center Assem Marei (Egypt), point guard Jayme Moten (Texas-Pana American), guard Zach Monaghan (South Dakota State), guard Gage Wooten (Missouri State-West Plains) and forward Jarvis Williams (Wisconsin-Green Bay), while the high-schoolers are Mike Busack of Redwood Valley and Grant Pope of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Margenthaler said he’s done adding to the roster.

“This is one of the best recruiting classes we’ve had here,” Margenthaler said.

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