Lucas Grimsley named player of the week in Sewickley

Lucas Grimsley, a junior at Sewickley Academy, has been named the boys basketball player of the week. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, he plays as a forward for his team. This year, Grimsley has played a key role in turning around the program, which struggled with a record of 3-18 two years ago. In the PIAA playoffs, Grimsley scored 22 points in the team's first-round victory against Windber. This win marked the first state playoff victory for Sewickley Academy at home. He continued to shine in the semifinal, where he and freshman teammate Mamadou Kane each contributed 17 points to help the Panthers defeat Greensburg Central Catholic 52-48. This victory takes them to the PIAA finals for the first time since their last championship win in 2017. Grimsley has a long history with basketball, having started playing at a young age. Although he briefly tried soccer and lacrosse in eighth grade, his main focus has been basketball since beginning high school. He averages over 16 points per game this season and has been part of the team since fourth grade. Grimsley has faced challenges in the past, but this season's success is especially rewarding after the team struggled during his freshman year. His coach, Mike Iuzzolino, praised Grimsley for his confidence and strong defensive skills, saying he makes it difficult for opponents to score. Lucas comes from a sports-oriented family. His sister Vivian is in eighth grade, and his twin brothers Eli and Leyland are both in sixth grade. They are all involved in sports, while Leyland enjoys watching WWE wrestling. Grimsley’s father, Demetrius, played high school baseball. Lucas hopes to continue his basketball career in college after he graduates.