By Seth Allen, UC Merced l August, 2024

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester.

Lucas Khoi Nguyen was a standout student athlete at Atwater High School before signing a national letter of intent to play basketball at UC Merced. Nguyen, who goes by Khoi, looks to continue his success on the court and in the classroom with the Bobcats this fall.

Where I come from: I was born and raised in Merced County.

What I’ve done: Before graduating high school, I earned my associate’s degree in business administration from Merced College. I maintained a 4.5 GPA at Atwater High and was one of a few valedictorians in my class. I played varsity basketball all four years and set a program record for career wins (73). We won four Central California Conference (CCC) championships in a row, and I was named to the All-CCC first team.

Why are you excited about coming to UC Merced? Education is a priority for me, and UC Merced has a great program for my major. As a member of the basketball team, I am excited about the switch to NCAA Division II and being able to connect with my teammates.

Academic and personal goals: I plan to major in business management with a minor in economics. I want to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UC Merced. I hope to play basketball all four years and win a couple of championships.

You can keep only three apps on your phone. What are they? TikTok (for inspiration), Instagram (to stay connected with friends and family) and YouTube (something to watch while I am eating!).

Name one thing that makes you laugh: My dad (pops) never fails to make me laugh. He has the best dad jokes.

It’s karaoke night. What’s your go-to song? I’m a big fan of the Disney movie “Aladdin,” so I love to sing “A Whole New World” any chance I get.

Quotable: “UC Merced will allow me to showcase my skills at the highest level; I’m ready to hang some banners in the gym.”