The trip turned out to be a homecoming for Tyquan Lucious.

The West Lowndes High School senior didn”t know it at the time, but his journey two months ago to Booneville for a tryout with the Northeast Community College men”s basketball team proved to be just like another practice or training session with the Panthers in Columbus.

Another tryout at East Mississippi C.C. in Scooba beckoned a month later, but Lucious knew right away NEMCC was the place for him.

“When I tried out with Northeast, they played the same way we play (at West Lowndes High),” Lucious said. “When I went to Scooba, I didn”t feel right. I didn”t feel comfortable. I felt comfortable at Northeast.”

Lucious made his decision official Wednesday, signing a scholarship to play basketball for the Tigers in 2011-12.

Lucious joins Bruce High”s Devin Tillman, New Albany”s Kareem Brown and Tadarious Coburn, Ripley”s Acie Vance, Corinth”s Deonta Herman and Steven Polk, and Belmont”s Jon Harrison in the 2011-12 signing class.

Lucious prefers the style of play and the atmosphere at NEMCC. He was confident of his decision, but it wasn”t until last week he finally made up his mind.

“It wasn”t a hard decision,” said Lucious, who hopes to try out to play baseball for NEMCC. “They have a winning program and a running team, and that”s something I can do. I love the way they play.”

Lucious said his transitioning from point guard in high school to college won”t be difficult. He said he is ready for the challenge because he wants to show people he can “do something” with his life.

NEMCC men”s basketball coach David Robbins was impressed with Lucious after watching him participate in a tryout at the school two months ago.

Robbins feels Lucious, a 5-foot-11, 176-pounder, has the potential to play both guard positions next season to help the Tigers improve on their 11-14 record in 2010-11. NEMCC made the state and regional tournament, but several key injuries prevented the team from accomplishing even more.

“He possesses some skills to score the basketball and his ballhandling was adequate,” Robbins said. “We just like the fit, and I think he was comfortable there.”

West Lowndes High boys basketball coach Roosevelt Bridges, who took control of the team midway through the season, said Lucious” versatility will serve him well at NEMCC. Lucious also played on the school”s football and baseball teams. He also is a member of the track and field team, where he is a member of the relay teams that have advanced to the Class 2A State meet on Saturday at Pearl High.

“Tyquan has that determination, and I think he is going to make Northeast very happy,” Bridges said. “He is going to another level, and when he completes that level the sky is the limit for him.”

Bridges said Lucious was outstanding at point and off guard and at small forward. Not only did Lucious average more than 27 points per game for the Panthers, who lost in the first round of the Class 2A North State tournament, he also averaged eight rebounds, four assists, and seven steals a game.

“I think he will adjust really well,” Bridges said. “He is going to have to stay focused and take care of his academics.”

Lucious said he will take summer classes at EMCC in Mayhew to help prepare him for the next step.

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.