In just a few months, Lucas Morillo has already made a name for himself in the NEPSAC.
A native of Mount Vernon, N.Y., Morillo transferred to Newman at the end of last summer, reclassified from the 2025 to 2026 class, and has made an immediate impact as one of the best players on the nationally-ranked Cardinals. Through 19 games, the 6-foot-7 guard leads Newman in scoring at 15.4 points per game to go along with 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 per game. He’s a matchup nightmare at his size, and he does it all for Newman – and colleges are noticing. Iowa and Xavier are among the Division 1 schools who have offered him a scholarship.
Among Morillo’s growing list of accomplishments, he has also suited up for the Dominican Republic’s youth national teams. He’s already played on the U16, U17 and U18 teams, and though he just turned 17, he’ll be playing up on the DR’s U19 team at this summer’s FIBA U19 World Cup, which will be held in Switzerland.
It’s about to be a big year for Morillo, who took some time this week with the New England Basketball Journal for a wide-ranging Q&A. We discussed his basketball inspirations, his strong transition this winter at Newman, the pride he has in representing his Dominican heritage, and much more.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What was your basketball upbringing like? How did you fall in love with the game?
Morillo: “I’ve always played basketball since I was little, like one of my first sports. Played a bunch of different sports but I stuck with basketball. No one in my family really played, but I got a ball when I was younger from my grandfather and I’ve just stuck with the game. When I was younger, I would always look up to Russell Westbrook. He really inspired me to play, like his enthusiasm and everything. Definitely my dad, too. He inspires me to keep playing, to keep pushing, pushing me every day and my whole family, my brother, my sister, my mom. It’s been great so far.”
What did you like about Russell Westbrook? Any specific memories?
Morillo: “Not specific. I don’t know why, but when I was younger … I don’t really play like him, but when I was younger, I just always loved his game.”
What made you fall in love with basketball?
Morillo: “I guess just being around it, and falling in love with the work and the game, and seeing my development over the years really inspired me to keep going. I really love the drive, so it’s going to keep me going for a while.”
How would you describe your game?
Morillo: “I would say I’m like a point forward. I’m 6-7, I feel like I can play the 1 through 4, even the 5. I feel like I’m an all-around player that can make plays for others, I can easily attack, go by people, make two play one. I also play at my own pace. I play kind of slow, but kind of fast in a way. I have slow outbursts and stuff, but I feel like I really kill people with my pace, really. And I love the mid-range, I feel like that’s my favorite spot. It’s always been, so I always go back to my mid-range game. And I really just try to be a leader on the court and just someone who wants to win overall.”
Last summer, you transferred to Newman and reclassified to 2026. What made you want to make the jump here?
Morillo: “It was a great decision. It was kind of late, but I wanted to reclass to ’26 since I was young. I’m still 17, just turned 17. I feel like it was the best decision for me to keep working on my game, get another year to get stronger and gives me an opportunity to actually play in college as a freshman. So I feel like this is a great decision coming here. When I visited, I loved the campus, loved the gym and everything, the school was definitely an important aspect. But I feel like it’s been great so far, I feel like I’ve been getting better every day with all the workouts. I feel like I’m in a great environment.”
Have you surprised yourself at all with how well you’ve done here right away?
Morillo: “I’d say I’m a little surprised because I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I always trusted my work and trusted all the hours that I put in to this game, that it’s going to pay off, so I really did believe before the season that I was going to make an impact on the team and just to try to win overall and be the best player I am.”
What have you enjoyed most about Newman and what’s made it such a great fit for you?
Morillo: “I think it’s a great fit being in Boston. I feel like it kind of helps me for college. Living in a dorm, getting to class on time, workout, I feel like it’s all on me. So, I feel like it’s really preparing me mentally and physically. Also on the court with (head coach) Jackson (Johnson), we’re on the same page. He likes to play fast, runs sets and everything and I feel like I fit well with the play style, and I feel like all the plays work all the time and I think my play style can really fit a lot of schemes for teams, so I think it’s a great fit for me.”
What have the experiences of playing for the Dominican Republic’s national teams been like for you, and what does that mean to you?
Morillo: “It’s a great feeling representing my country and my family’s heritage being Dominican. It definitely inspires me, knowing they’re not as wealthy as the United States, so I feel like I try to put on and try to play my best, just for my last name and the name on my back.”
What’s the college recruiting process been like so far?
Morillo: “I think it’s been great so far. I’m blessed to be in this position to receive interest and scholarships and I’m grateful for all of it. I think that it’s going well so far, I’m getting a lot of calls and texts, and I’m loving the process so far, eventually finding a school that’s the right fit.”
What are some of the factors or things you’ll be looking for in your eventual college decision?
Morillo: “I think play style and fit is definitely very important, if I can fit well with the team and the play style. Also, a place that I feel at home, feel comfortable and a place where I have a strong connection with the coaches. And just a place where I can get better and definitely try to play as a freshman and compete every day.”
What are some of the things you’re trying to improve on with your game?
Morillo: “I’m mostly improving on my jump shot. I feel like expanding my range will definitely make it hard for defenders because they have to press up, so I feel like I can blow by them. I’ve been working on my mid-post game because I feel like I’m 6-7, so I sometimes have little guards guarding me so I can post them up and work from there. I’ve also been working on my free throws a lot, and just my pick-and-roll game because I know I’m able to get off the screen, hold the defender off and make plays from there, and work on my reads also.”
What are some of the things you like to do outside of basketball?
Morillo: “I like to spend time with my family definitely. I like to read a little bit, definitely hang out with friends and just live the life of a regular kid. I like to play chess and just relax and stuff like that.”
How did you get into chess?
Morillo: “My dad taught me, and I’ve played it ever since.”
Favorite shoe to play in?
Morillo: “I’ve been playing in the Kyrie 4s, I love to play in those. I like the KDs, too.”
Is there anyone besides Westbrook who you like to watch in the NBA?
Morillo: “I like to model my game after Devin Booker and DeMar DeRozan. I feel like they’re tall guards, play in the paint, also with DeMar, I feel like his mid-range is elite, so I try to take bits and pieces of everybody in the NBA and try to watch and gain as much knowledge as I can just to put into my game.”
Fan of an NBA team?
Morillo: “I would say the Knicks. I’m from New York.”
What are your dreams and goals with basketball? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Morillo: “My overall dream is to play in the NBA, that’s always been my dream but I definitely have little goals on the way. I want to play in college, possibly overseas, wherever my path leads me, so hopefully I can continue playing this game five years from now, 10 years from now and do what I love.”
