Centennial senior guard Italee Lucas, a second-team Parade All-American last year, signed a letter of intent with North Carolina, which is currently ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press' preseason poll. Photo by Clint Karlsen.

It's not often that a local player signs with the No. 2 team in the country.

Then again, players such as Centennial girls basketball star Italee Lucas don't come around every day.

Lucas highlighted the area's signing class Wednesday, signing a national letter of intent with North Carolina, ranked No. 2 nationally by The Associated Press.

"It feels like everything is coming together," Lucas said. "It just feels like a relief.

"It's a great accomplishment. They play how I like to play. They play a running game, so I think I'll fit best there."

Several other athletes also signed, including Arbor View baseball standout Michael Blazek (UNR), Green Valley basketball player Billy White (San Diego State) and Bonanza girls basketball player Kathy Willinsky (Santa Clara).

Gymnast Cassidy McComb, who attends Green Valley and competes for the Las Vegas Gymcats, signed with two-time defending national champion Georgia. Former Palo Verde star P'Allen Stinnett, currently at Brewster Academy (N.H.), signed with Creighton.

North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell agrees that Lucas should fit right in with the Tar Heels.

"I think our style fits her game, and I think the way we play, she will just flourish with her skills and ability," Hatchell said. "I think it's a great marriage."

Hatchell said the 5-foot-8-inch Lucas will get a shot to play right away at both guard positions. She said Lucas will be used to help ease the loss of senior point guard Ivory Latta, the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.

"I've been coaching 32 years, and I've never seen a ballhandler any better than she is," Hatchell said of Lucas. "Her ballhandling skills are tremendous."

Lucas was named to the Parade All-America second team as a junior. She was the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Review-Journal and the Reno Gazette-Journal after averaging 22.8 points, 8.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 steals.

Lucas orally committed to North Carolina as a sophomore and said she never wavered on that commitment. Likewise, Hatchell was convinced right away that she wanted Lucas on her squad.

"Once we saw her play, I knew right away," Hatchell said. "I told the rest of them that this kid is a perfect fit for us, and she's coming out at the right time.

"When I see a kid like that that I know is the right thing, we offer them right away. I think her future at North Carolina is going to be great."

Centennial coach Karen Weitz has seen Lucas continue to improve since her freshman year.

"She's just a hard worker," Weitz said. "She's not going to go to college and stop learning. She's going to get better at the next level as well."

Hatchell said: "One of the best things about Italee is she makes everybody on the floor better. That may be the greatest thing a coach can say about a player."

Blazek became Arbor View's first Division I signee. He was a second-team all-state selection as a junior after going 6-1 with a 0.97 ERA. While he might pitch at UNR, Aggies coach Gary White said the Wolf Pack likes Blazek as a shortstop.

"He's a guy that very well could step in as a freshman and play," White said. "He's got great hands and a very good arm for a shortstop. The footwork is there to play the middle infield, and the hands are just something to enjoy."

The versatile 6-8 White averaged 13.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 blocks for the Gators as a junior.

Willinsky, a three-year starter, averaged 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds as a junior.

Stinnett was the Review-Journal and Gazette-Journal Class 4A Player of the Year last season.

Four Bishop Gorman athletes are expected to sign today.

Baseball players Casey Reese (UNLV) and Taylor Cole (Brigham Young), who helped the Gaels to their first state title in the spring, are expected to sign. Reese got the win in the Sunset Regional title game, and Cole was a second-team all-state shortstop. Both are expected to be fielders and pitchers in college.

Gorman girls tennis player Jackie Tang, third at state in singles this fall, will sign with Syracuse.

And girls basketball player Kaila Goff, who helped the Gaels to the state title last season, will sign with Southern Utah.