Playing Experience
Jim Lutz has playing experience at both the college Division 1 and professional European levels. Upon receiving All-League, All-Area, and All-State honors at Easton (PA) High School, he was offered scholarships from several mid-major universities before accepting a “full-ride” to play for Gary Williams at American University in Washington, DC.
College
During the Gary Williams’ era at AU, the Eagles boasted several of the best backcourt tandems in the East, with four guards going on to be drafted by NBA teams. Lutz joined an AU team that was ranked by Eastern Basketball Magazine as the 6th best team in the East – ahead of perennial powers Pittsburgh, Georgetown, UConn and Temple.
While competing every day in practice against three backcourt teammates who would go on to be drafted by the NBA, Lutz played mostly the point guard position, but saw considerable playing time at both the shooting guard and forward positions as well.
Lutz contributed valuable minutes at three different positions in AU’s victory over a Georgetown University squad that was considered the best team in all of college basketball during that era, having played in three NCAA championship games during a four year span.
Lutz was AU’s team captain, most valuable player and leading scorer as a senior while competing in the highly regarded Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). During that era a couple of CAA teams were among the nation’s best, receiving national rankings and advancing as far as the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. (More recently, two teams from the CAA – George Mason and VCU – have made it to the NCAA Final Four).
During Lutz’s senior year the CAA boasted several of the nation’s top college stars and future NBA standouts, including David Robinson, who would become the national college player-of-the-year as well as the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
While leading his team in scoring throughout his final season, Lutz also ranked among the CAA’s top-10 players in both field goal and free throw accuracy – hitting 56% of his shots from the floor (5th best in the conference) and 80% from the foul line (8th best in conference).
Lutz received conference Player-of-the-Week honors after going for 17 points and 7 rebounds against a Georgetown University team whose starting lineup featured five future NBA players. At the time the Hoyas were defending NCAA champions and ranked #1 in the nation.
Lutz followed up that game with a 19 point, 8 rebound effort against a Rutgers University team that featured two guards drafted by the NBA, including 10-year NBA veteran John Battle.
Lutz went head-to-head his senior year against three 7-foot centers, each of whom went on to become NBA All-Stars. Two of them, Pat Ewing and David Robinson, played for the original Olympic Dream Team. Lutz averaged 15 points per game in those three contests. Competing against a tough Eastern Illinois team that featured 2-time NBA All-Star Kevin Duckworth and All-American Jon Collins, Lutz hit two free throws in the final seconds and led his team with 16 points in a one-point AU victory.
Lutz was awarded the WAMU Radio Player-of-the-Year award while finishing on the school’s all-time top-10 lists in career field goal and free throw accuracy – lists he remained on for over 20 years.
Professional
Upon graduating from AU, Lutz received an invitation to try out for the Continental Basketball Association (former minor league to the NBA) but instead signed a professional contract to play in England’s National Basketball League. While playing overseas, Lutz was often matched up against former college stars from schools like North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Villanova.
Lutz averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds per game and was England’s 4th leading scorer behind Dale Shakelford (Syracuse), Billy Hungrecker (UNLV) and Cleave Lewis (Fresno State). He ranked in the country’s top-10 in every offensive category including field goal percentage (59%), free throw percentage (80%) and 3-point field goal percentage (42%). He recorded his career high of 45 points against the league’s top-ranked team.
