Logan Lokie took a big step in his life on Wednesday.

The senior basketball standout for Nansemond-Suffolk Academy committed to play for Shenandoah University in Winchester.

“It has always been a dream of mine to be able to play college ball, no matter what level it is, so I’m truly blessed about that,” he said. “When I arrived at Shenandoah’s campus, it really just felt like home.”

“I was excited about it,” NSA coach Lamont Strothers said. “We had been working on a few schools throughout the year.”

Last fall, Lokie visited Lynchburg College.

He said Randolph College scouts had a presence at some Saints games to see him play, and toward the end of the year, Shenandoah showed interest, as well, which Strothers helped facilitate.

“Shenandoah really expressed the most interest in me, and I really just liked what (Hornets) coach (Rob) Pryor stood for,” Lokie said. “He holds his athletes to a very high standard on and off the court, and I think that’s very important with moving forward towards life.”

Lokie’s visit to Shenandoah, which happened on Monday, helped him seal his commitment decision.

“Of course, I’m very excited, very proud of him,” said his mother, Justine Lokie. “He’s worked very hard for this over the years.”

Logan Lokie said, “This has been a goal of mine ever since I could dribble a ball.”

He estimates he started playing around the age of 5. In the time since, he has played in a recreational league, in the Amateur Athletic Union, for a middle school team and he has played all four years of high school on the Nansemond-Suffolk varsity team.

Because Shenandoah is an NCAA Division III school, it cannot give out athletic scholarships, but Lokie is guaranteed a roster spot.

“I have to come in and work hard in order to definitely gain some playing time,” Lokie said.

He noted the Hornets do play a lot of younger guys, and Pryor puts his young players in situations where they can gain experience.

“He’ll play a combo guard,” Strothers said of Lokie. “He’s not a one, he’s not a two, he’s a tweener, so he can be developed to play wherever they need him to play.”

Wherever Lokie is positioned, Strothers communicated that he knows what Lokie will bring to the Hornets.

“He’s going to give 100 percent in everything he does,” Strothers said, noting Lokie brings intensity in practice. “He’s going to bring a lot of hustle and effort to the team.”

On the academic side of things, Lokie plans to major in business at Shenandoah.

“Their business program is really big up there, and a lot of people do major in business,” Lokie said, adding that for his minor, he is considering sports management or physical therapy.

“I really want to give a lot of thanks to all the coaches who have helped me along and a lot of thanks to my family, who have supported me,” he said.

He specifically cited Lakeland High School coach Clint Wright, who coached him in AAU ball, and Strothers, who taught him a lot about basketball during NSA’s 2015-16 season.

“His dream is finally becoming true,” Justine Lokie.