McALLEN — When Emma Lucio was in second grade, she told her mom she wanted to play basketball after seeing a commercial about the sport on TV.
Lucio’s parents were unsure about what to expect from their daughter, never having played basketball before. According to her mom, Lucio was a natural, dribbling up and down the court with ease from the start.
Since then, Lucio knew she wanted to play collegiately, she said, with the thought of playing Division I hoops creeping into her head around sixth grade.
The Edinburg Vela senior made her dream a reality Wednesday in front of her family, friends and coaches at Cavazos Sports Institute in McAllen, signing her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Texas San Antonio.
“It means a lot to me, being able to come and sign knowing I had a goal set and I achieved that goal,” Lucio said. “Signing is just kind of like a relief, knowing that I made it, but there is still a long way to go.”
Lucio joins UTSA, an NCAA Division I program that competes in Conference USA, as a four-year letterwinner, playing her first two seasons at PSJA North before transferring to Edinburg Vela last year.
During her two years at PSJA North, Lucio earned District 31-6A newcomer of the year honors as a freshman, adding a District 31-6A first-team selection as a sophomore.
Last season was her best year yet, averaging a career-best 20.7 points per game and adding 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game en route to the District 31-6A co-offensive MVP award and spots on the district’s first team and all-defense lists.
Lucio credits her growth to her trainer, Nathan Gonzalez, as well as playing against boys at parks and during training for as long as she can remember.
“From when I started playing, I’ve been playing at the park with the guys,” Lucio said. “From then to now, I prefer to play against guys. Its just more competitive for me to play against them. Ever since then I’ve known that this was for me.”
Lucio still has one more season left at Edinburg Vela before graduating, with the SaberCats tipping off their season later this week.
She enters her senior year with 1,306 career points, with more surely to come. Once the clock hits zero on her high school career, however, Lucio is ready for the challenges NCAA Division I basketball brings.
“The workouts will definitely be different, plus classes, it’s going to be hard,” Lucio said. “I’ve managed to get through four workouts a day plus school in high school, so I think I can do it over there, too. I’m ready to play against big girls and try to show them what I can do up there. I know I can compete up there, so I know it’s going to be an awesome journey.”
