CHICAGO (April 8, 2022) – Lucas Williamson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), a guard on the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team, will compete at the 2022 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, April 13-16 in Portsmouth, Va. The 6-foot-4 graduate student will join 63 of the best college basketball players from across the nation to participate in the four-day event in front of representatives from every NBA team as well as numerous international clubs.
 
A three-time Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team selection and two-time MVC Defensive Player of the Year honoree, the Chicago native enjoyed his best all-around season as a Rambler in 2021-22, averaging 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per outing, while connecting on 39 percent (73-for-187) of his attempts from three-point range.
 
The winningest player in Loyola men's basketball history with 124 victories, Williamson finished his career as one of only 23 players in program annals to record at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds and ranks second all time in three-point field goals made (223) and steals (190). During his five years in Rogers Park, he helped Loyola to four postseason berths, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament, taking the Ramblers to the Final Four in 2017-18 and the Sweet 16 in 2020-21.
 
Williamson will become the third Rambler in the last 16 seasons and second in the last six to compete at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, joining Blake Schilb (2007) and Milton Doyle (2017).
 
Last spring, Williamson, who was a member of the MVC Honor Roll and recently was named a Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American, graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and he is currently pursuing his master's degree in digital marketing. 
 
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is the oldest amateur basketball tournament in the United States and has attracted some of professional basketballs biggest stars during its 67 years of existence, highlighted by Rick Barry, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Lucas, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen and Jimmy Butler, among others.