Prospect Spotlight: Nick Gentleman (2017)
2017 forward Nick Gentleman missed his entire junior season due to a torn ACL, but he’s back in full force this year. The 6’5″, 195-pounder Ft. Myers senior says he’s changed a lot in his game so far this season.…
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Continue Reading2017 forward Nick Gentleman missed his entire junior season due to a torn ACL, but he’s back in full force this year.
The 6’5″, 195-pounder Ft. Myers senior says he’s changed a lot in his game so far this season. It looks to be working so far. On Thursday night, he dropped a game-high 22 points along with 12 rebounds and three blocks.
“Leading the team in every way I can is the most important role to me,” he told Prep Hoops Florida. “Whether that’s in scoring or just leading by example off the court, especially with the young group of guys we have this year.”
At 5-2, the Green Wave have four freshman and two sophomores. Gentleman is one of four key seniors on this team.
He’s averaging 14.1 points and 8.0 rebounds so far this season. Here’s how he broke down his own game.
“Rebounding has always been something I strive to be the best at, but for the first time in high school,” he said. “I feel myself becoming more of a scoring threat as the season progresses, and only see my offensive game on the uprise.
“Defensively I’ve had to work very hard to get back to where I was before my knee injury, but I can also feel myself getting better at guarding guys on the perimeter as the season progresses too. I’d say my perimeter defense is where I need the most improvement though.”
Gentleman played with the Florida Future on the travel circuit this past summer.
“We were one of the most competitive teams at these tournaments, but the loss of my teammate Stef’an Strawder really shook me and my team. Coach Mike Bonilla (assistant at South Ft. Myers) was the coach of this team and really helped me get back into the swing of things right after I was cleared to start playing by my doctor. This past summer was my first season with this particular team, but I played in the High Hoops program from 7th-10th grade.”
With no offers or interest yet, you have to believe that is largely due to his junior season being wiped out. Gentleman is smart in the paint and uses his long arms down low to his advantage. He can shoot with the best of them and play lock down defense as well.