Luke Fischer back in Wisconsin to play basketball for Golden Eagles

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Germantown High School alumnus Luke Fischer is back in Wisconsin -- having transferred from Indiana University to Marquette University to play basketball.

"It's a great fit. Closer to home, and the future is really bright, so I'm looking forward to it," Fischer said.

Luke Fischer's actions speak louder than his words, but when the 6'11" 230-pounder who helped Germantown to a pair of undefeated seasons and two consecutive state championships decided to transfer to Marquette University from Indiana University, he made a lot of noise. Not because the Hoosiers happened to be coached by former Golden Eagles Coach Tom Crean. There was no controversy.

"Being back in Wisconsin is great. You know, only 30 minutes away from Germantown and all that stuff, so yeah, that's pretty much the main reason," Fischer said.

So for Fischer, it really boiled down to being closer to family and friends -- and being part of a Marquette family that's made him feel right at home.

"From the first day I was here, it was with open arms. It's like I've been here for the whole semester already. It's that open, so it's really nice," Fischer said.

Jerry Wainwright has been around a long time. He now works with the bigs for Marquette, and getting Luke Fischer in his grasp is special to him.

"I'm not trying to put pressure on him or on Marquette or on Buzz. I do believe in Christmas. I don't know if I really believe in Santa Claus. In my late 60s, to right now, have all of a sudden in January, a late Christmas, and have a youngster like that appear..." Wainwright said.

That comment about Santa aside, Wainwright is a good man who's been a great coach. He worked with San Antonio Spurs future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan when the latter played at Wake Forest.

"I always looked at big guys and 'do they play the game because they are big, or do they love to play?' I think Luke really loves basketball," Wainwright said.

Fischer loves the fact that he'll be playing basketball for Marquette. Now that he's back home, about the only thing the former Germantown star couldn't do was get a ticket to Tuesday night's showdown between his Alma Mater and Brookfield Central.

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a ticket, so I mean, I'm not going to pay $50 for one either," Fischer said, with a laugh.

Of course, Steve Showalter's Warhawks could have used one more game from Fischer -- as they had their boys state record 69 game winning streak snapped by the Lancers.