Walford signs pro contract with Drogheda Wolves

In the Sweet 16 of the 2020 Division III Men’s Basketball tournament, No. 2 SJU was set to take on No. 4 St. Thomas in a rivalry dating back over a hundred years. Tickets sold out in 10 minutes.
However, it was not meant to be, as the impending threat of COVID-19 forced the tournament to be cancelled before the game on March 14.

This cancellation meant something different to each player, but for forward Lucas Walford, SJU 20’, it meant that his collegiate career came to an unsatisfying end. This unhappy closure drove him to sign with the Drogheda Wolves, a member of Ireland’s National Basketball Division 1.

“Before the season ended, I wasn’t really thinking about playing overseas at all,” Walford said. “It was all really abrupt. Right before the St. Thomas game, we found out. Right after that, I started pondering my future, and I just started putting together a highlight film. When COVID-19 happened, I didn’t feel like it was a proper ending.”

With the help of Head Coach Patrick McKenzie, Walford’s highlights made it over to professional teams in Ireland. In July, Drogheda’s Head Coach Gavin Garland contacted Walford, and by August, Walford had signed with the team.

This came after a dominant career at SJU, where he broke the program’s career record with 83 blocks. He also claimed All-MIAC second team honors twice and All-MIAC defensive team honors three times. His uncanny athleticism, coupled with his 6’8” height, was a contributing factor to his success.

“His height, wingspan and vertical are similar to Andrew Wiggins,” McKenzie said. “He’s a really athletic, long, rangy kid. He’s certainly a high-level athlete.”

Along with breaking records, that athleticism, combined with leadership and intelligence, helped Walford lead St. John’s to a 73-11 record during his three years at the school, something the team will sorely miss this upcoming season.

“You don’t replace a guy like him. He had as big an impact on winning as any guy we’ve had here,” McKenzie said. “He impacted at a high level. You don’t get guys like that just coming through here every year. He was a special talent.”

Even though he graduated in May, Walford is not done with his education. His contract is different than most professional basketball contracts. Instead of getting paid, he was offered an opportunity to complete a master’s program in marketing and entrepreneurship for free.

“One of Lucas’ best traits would have to be how smart he is,” former teammate Zach Hanson said. “That translates for him both on and off the court. He was good in the classroom here at SJU. His smarts are his best trait, and that will take him far beyond basketball.”

Both the contract he signed and the game he aims to play are unique. Walford expects to play around 20 minutes a game, as Drogheda has two Americans on the roster but is only allowed to have one of them on the court at a time, per league rules. Despite this, he is still aiming to improve his game overseas.

“I want to be more aggressive than I was at SJU, look to score more, and utilize my athleticism on the perimeter,” Walford said.

Much of this improvement has to come from individual work, while at St. John’s, his improvement came from working with teammates day in and day out.

“I’m going to miss going to practice every day with the guys and knowing that, win or lose, it was all worth it,” Walford said. “I really would give anything to go back for one more day.”