Daniel Lucke never planned to play on Pace Academy boy’s basketball team, but the soon-to-graduate manager recently got the chance to do just that on senior night.
When the teen finally got the chance to suit up, what happened next was a moment that swiftly went viral.
» RELATED: South Forsyth student stuns teacher with Georgia Tech acceptance
With seconds to spare, Lucke dribbled the ball before sinking a 3-pointer. Immediately, the crowd roared and attendees began storming the court.
The moment occurred after head coach Sharman White revealed Lucke would dress out for the special night honoring twelfth graders.
“This man’s been faithful, more faithful than anybody I know,” White said in a video tweeted associate head coach Greg Blythe. “So, we’ gon’ reward you (on) Senior Night. You’re dressing out on Senior Night.”
» RELATED: Pace Academy wins appeal to join AA; 4 other private schools denied again
The team quickly rallied around Lucke, who grinned from ear to ear. Then, the big moment came as the team manager of two years “crosses opponent and knocks down a 3 at the buzzer,” Blythe tweeted of the viral moment.
White tweeted in response to USA Basketball Youth Division Director of Coach Development Don Showalter, "Glad to be able to be a small part! Tremendous young man who was deserving!!"
USA Today reported the team was already winning when Lucke got his moment, but his buzzer-beater moment helped the team ultimately secure a 81-47 win over The Lovett School. The incident spread online and was ultimately tweeted by ESPN's SportsCenter, where it racked up 2.3 million views.
» RELATED: Google Maps Street View goes viral after woman shares image of deceased loved one
“I was so overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn’t feel anything when I was out there," Lucke told USA Today. “It was the best night of my life.”
The senior student, who plans to study business at the University of Notre Dame, told CNN he knew he wanted to score a 3-pointer.
"I knew I wanted to get a three," Lucke said. "The crowd was cheering for me and I got so into the performance of it that I just really wanted to give them something worth their while. In my head I just thought any three would do, so I had it in mind to get one from somewhere, but once the defender fell, I knew I had to seize the opportunity no matter how far out I was."
About the Author
