The Jacksonville State University women’s basketball team has added a local player to the Gamecock program, as former Gadsden State standout Lacey Buchanon recently transferred from Troy.
A 5-3 guard, Buchanon helped the 2014-15 Lady Trojans to a 20-win season. Before playing for Troy, Buchanon spent her first two seasons on the collegiate level at Gadsden State, where she was named the 2013-14 Alabama Community College Conference Player of the Year after leading the Lady Cardinals to the semifinals of the state tournament.
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Buchanon must sit out the 2015-16 campaign but will be available for the 2016-17 season.
“We are super excited to have Lacey join the program,” said JSU head coach Rick Pietri. “It’s always great when you can add an accomplished, capable, homegrown talent to your roster.
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“Lacey has won a high school state championship at Jacksonville High School, led Gadsden State for two successful seasons and was a factor on a good Troy team. Besides all that, she’s a really good person. We’re very happy to have her.”
Buchanon played in 31 games and made four starts as a junior. She established her season high in points with 19 against Louisiana-Monroe, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line, along with four steals. She finished the season averaging 5.6 points per game and saw an average of 22 minutes of floor action in 2014-15. She ranked second on the squad in assists with 65 and averaged 2.0 assists per outing. Buchanon was also credited with 38 steals at Troy.
As a sophomore at Gadsden State, Buchanon was named to the NJCAA All-America second team in 2013-14. Besides being named the ACCC Player of the Year, she was selected to the ACCC All-Conference first team after averaging 18.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for a Lady Cardinal team that led the ACCC in scoring.
As a freshman, Buchanon helped Gadsden State to a 28-6 overall record and an appearance in the ACCC Tournament championship game. She was tabbed to the All-Conference first team. Buchanon graduated as Gadsden State’s all-time leader in assists and steals.
As a senior at Jacksonville High School, Buchanon led the 2011-12 Lady Golden Eagles to a 31-4 record and the AHSAA Class 4A state championship, the first basketball state title in school history. She was named MVP of the state tournament. Her decorated prep career included Alabama Sports Writers Association first team All-State honors as a junior and senior, along with honorable mention ASWA All-State status as a sophomore.