The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the addition of Lucas Scroggins, a 6-foot-9 forward from Woodbridge, Va. who joins the program as a freshman for the 2023-24 season.

Scroggins comes to the Beacons after spending the 2022-23 season at Bosco Institute in Crown Point. He graduated from Hylton High School in Virginia in 2022.

“I would definitely say that the coaching staff and their energy was a factor in my college decision,” Scroggins said. “During the recruiting process, they stuck with me and stayed in contact throughout. Coach Powell has a vision and expects a lot from us. He wants to win. I love that winning mentality; that is something that stood out to me from the beginning.”

Scroggins averaged 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during his senior year of high school before averaging 12.6 points and 8.0 boards during his prep year at Bosco Institute.

“I would describe myself as a young guy with a lot of potential,” Scroggins said. “I’m a hard worker and a very versatile player. At 6-9, I can jump, shoot and dribble and I’m a great passer. I want to come in and be the best version of myself that I can. I want to continue to grow and help the team out in any way that I can so that we can win.”

Scroggins is undecided upon his major but is leaning toward an art-related academic pursuit. He loves to draw and hopes to pursue graphic design. He also plays video games in his free time.

Scroggins listed his most memorable basketball moment as a game to go to districts in high school when he hit the game-winning free throw after being fouled on a putback attempt with the game tied in the fourth quarter.

“Lucas is another addition from Bosco Institute, a program that we’ve developed an awesome relationship with and had great success with,” Powell said. “He has tons of potential and has a chance to make a great impact and really develop into an awesome player here at Valpo.”

Officially signing with Valpo culminates years of hard work on the basketball court as he has earned the opportunity to play at the Division-I level in the Missouri Valley Conference.

“It’s very relieving,” Scroggins said. “It feels great knowing that all the work that I put in was for a reason. It’s even better to be under a new coaching staff with Coach Powell returning to Valpo as head coach. I just want to win.”

Scroggins becomes the eighth newcomer announced by Powell this summer, joining Central Michigan transfer Ola Ajiboye, junior college transfer Isaiah Stafford, Murray State transfer Jaxon Edwards, freshman Cooper Schwieger, Hofstra transfer Lual Manyang, freshman Kaspar Sepp and freshman Sherman Weatherspoon IV.