Look at Kalin Lucas' eyes.

They're wet and red, having probably released a gallon or two of tears in the last half hour. They're darting around the Breslin Center interview room, searching for an explanation he can't seem to find. They're staring down at a microphone, which is asking him for answers he doesn't want to give.

The Orchard Lake St. Mary's junior point guard, who verbally committed to play at MSU in two years, has just seen his team lose Friday's Class A semifinal game to Okemos by one point, 57-56, ending his season and his hopes of a state title.

A reporter asks him what he can learn from this experience.

"I'm just going to work hard, try to get bigger and stronger, and try to be here next year," Lucas says.

He pauses, then adds: "But win the next time."

Even despite the loss, Spartans fans who saw Lucas on Friday still had plenty of reasons to be excited. The 6-foot point guard tallied 26 points — 10 in the fourth quarter — and pulled in eight rebounds and handed out six assists.

Lucas, listed as the 28th best prospect in his class by Rivals.com, is one of three blue-chip recruits MSU landed from the class of 2007. He's joined by Redford Covenant shooting guard Durrell Summers (listed 13th in the class by Rivals) and Lawrenceville, Ga. guard Chris Allen (84th).

They're the heirs apparent to senior guard Maurice Ager, who's played his last game as a Spartan, and junior guard Shannon Brown, who might have, as well.

But on Friday, Lucas was still just a high schooler leading his team in an inspiring — if imperfect — way.

He struggled from the field, shooting just 10-of-30 from the field and 2-of-8 from 3-point range.

It was Lucas' first game at Breslin Center, and he acknowledged feeling a few jitters with some of his future coaches and teammates in the stands.

"I think I was just rushing my shots from the beginning of the game," Lucas said. "I think I was a little too happy, too excited to be here in this atmosphere, to be here at Michigan State."

There was also the play late in the third quarter where Lucas stripped an Okemos player of the ball and found himself with a wide open 50-foot lane to the basket. He glided toward the hoop, gathered himself with his two feet and elevated for a dunk he's made countless times this season. Only this time, Lucas got stuffed by the front of the rim, knocking himself to the ground as the ball bounced harmlessly out of bounds.

Like I said, he's not perfect.

But his contributions also went well beyond the stat sheet.

He showed the resiliency that one needs to lead a team. On Orchard Lake's first possession after that botched dunk, Lucas drove right back in the lane, scooped in a layup, got fouled and hit the free throw to tie the game.

He provided the afternoon's comic relief when, midway through the fourth quarter, his shorts got bloodied by a cut on his chin and he "dropped trou" on the court to trade with someone from the end of the St. Mary's bench.

And, in a time where the prototypical athlete is becoming more and more stoic and emotionless, Lucas proved to be a refreshing change of pace — a player whose heart isn't just splattered on his sleeve but practically drips onto the floor.

Consider: When the horn sounded to make the defeat final, Lucas crouched to the ground in front of the bench, his jersey pulled over his face to cover the tears welling in his eyes.

He was disappointed to lose in this setting, but he was just as disappointed to lose on a court he'll soon call his own.

"I was very excited," Lucas said, "because I know this is my home."

And hopefully, once the tears clear from his eyes, Lucas will see that this was just the first of many opportunities he'll have to make memories at Breslin Center.

Tom Keller is a State News sports reporter. He can be reached at kellert1@msu.edu.