Prospect spotlight: Nathan Bax (2018)
SPRINGFIELD — Helias 2018 forward Nathan Bax is currently drawing more interest for his football talents than his abilities on the basketball court, but don’t let that fool you — he’s still a load on the hardwood. A strong, 6’6,…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD — Helias 2018 forward Nathan Bax is currently drawing more interest for his football talents than his abilities on the basketball court, but don’t let that fool you — he’s still a load on the hardwood.
A strong, 6’6, 225-pound forward, Bax doubles as a receiver and defensive end on the football field where he caught four touchdown passes and led the Crusaders with 13 tackles for loss.
Bax says spent the offseason playing for the Missouri Combat and said the experience helped make him a tough player. He has since taken a football mentality to the hardwood this winter where he is averaging 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
“The way I play the game is tenacious, I like to get to the rim and I finish strong and I will hustle and I will make electrifying plays that will get the team going,” Bax said.
Bax, fellow 2018 Landon Harrison and others have helped a young Helias squad start the season 10-2 start and the Crusaders are currently ranked No. 4 in the latest Missouri Class 4 poll.
“This team is very young and scrappy, we play fast and we play hard and we will get in you on defense,” Bax said. “I think i have to be a great vocal leader because I’m one of the two people who have varsity experience on the team and I will have to made big plays to get my team going.”
Bax said he looks forward to playing against Columbia Rock Bridge, a squad that is off to a strong start this season.
“It is always a good game between us and it it always a tough game,” Bax said. “They are really good this year and playing them is gonna be a tough test for us.”
A fan of LeBron James, Bax says his dad and older brother Adam Bax — who graduated last year after helping Helias reach the Final Four — have been the biggest influence on his basketball career.