Northern Iowa backup forward Lucas O’Rear provides spark for 19th-ranked Hawkeyes

O’Rear provides spark for 19th-ranked Panthers

DES MOINES, Iowa — At first glance, it’s hard to view Northern Iowa junior forward Lucas O’Rear as a Division I player, let alone the spark plug of the Missouri Valley powerhouse.

Whether it’s the mutton chops, the messy hair or the green shamrock on his shoulder, O’Rear looks more like the burly dude from a local pickup game than a game-changer for the 19th-ranked Panthers.

Then the whistle blows.

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound O’Rear is the first one off the bench when things get hairy, setting screens, grabbing boards, taking charges and making a pest of himself. On a team devoid of star power, O’Rear is a perfect fit for the scrappy Panthers.

“His toughness and his competitiveness, those two things are at such a high level,” Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson said. “He’s got those two things as part of his personality at the highest level, and I think that is what impacts our team the most.”

The pedestrian stats — 4.3 points, 4.4 rebounds a game and zero starts — belie how important he has become to the Panthers (22-2, 13-1 MVC). Northern Iowa can clinch the conference outright with a win at Bradley on Saturday.

It didn’t used to be this way for O’Rear, a native of tiny Nashville, Ill. He was the star back in high school, averaging 19 points, 10.6 rebounds and four blocks a game in leading Nashville to a 33-1 record his senior year.

But like a lot of high school standouts, O’Rear was never destined to be a college star. Instead of holding out hope that he’d someday find the spotlight, O’Rear quickly realized his limitations — a lack of size and athleticism — and set out to make the most of what he had.

He’s been doing so since he was just a boy. The youngest of two brothers, O’Rear’s world was shattered when his mother, Monica, died on Christmas Day in 2000. Lucas said the tragedy brought the family closer and helped him become more mature. The shamrock on O’Rear’s shoulder is accompanied by the words “O’Rear Brothers,” a tribute to his family.

“Everybody had to pull together and me and my brother had to pick up the slack and help my dad after she passed,” O’Rear said. “Everybody knows it’s harder to be a single parent trying to put two boys through college, through high school and to be there and support them in whatever they do. My dad an awesome job. That’s who I look up to.”

O’Rear also loves baseball, and that’s where his future may lie.

A right-handed reliever with a fastball that can hit 90 mph, he struck out 15 batters in 17 1/3 innings for the Panthers last spring — the program’s final season because of budget cuts. O’Rear had a limited stint with the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League, a summer circuit for college players.

O’Rear hasn’t decided whether he’ll pursue a career in baseball, though he intends to explore that possibility.

For now, he’s content with playing basketball at Northern Iowa — and so are his teammates.

With the Panthers up just two points at rival Drake on Wednesday night, O’Rear drew a charge on Bulldogs freshman Seth VanDeest and pumped his fist like he just hit a game-winning shot.

Ali Farokhmanesh followed with two long 3s — one off a tough pass from O’Rear near the sidelines — to key a 15-0 run that gave Northern Iowa a 57-48 win.

“He does so many things for our team. He’s so well-rounded. Rebounds, defensively — everything he does is a huge part of our success this year,” senior forward Adam Koch said.

Jacobson also credits O’Rear’s versatility for helping make the Panthers go. He can spell Koch and starting center Jordan Eglseder for extended minutes if they get in foul trouble, but he can also provide an instant spark after prolonged periods on the bench.

O’Rear’s biggest asset to the team, according to Jacobson, is the tone he sets with his work ethic. Even in practice, O’Rear can’t stand it if he misses a loose ball or a defensive switch.

“It really sends a message to everyone in our program,” Jacobson said. “(O’Rear) says ‘I’m going to do my job the best I can.’ His job isn’t as glamorous as some of the other ones, and that just sends a loud message that this is a team deal. And that’s invaluable.”