Prospect Spotlight: Alex Nicoli (2020 Western Christian HS)
The non-conference slate for Western Christian has been a gauntlet of sorts as the Pioneers have been taking on top teams from larger classifications – and beating them. Alex Nicoli is enjoying every minute of it. The hard-nosed 6-foot-1, 175-pound…
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Continue ReadingThe non-conference slate for Western Christian has been a gauntlet of sorts as the Pioneers have been taking on top teams from larger classifications – and beating them. Alex Nicoli is enjoying every minute of it. The hard-nosed 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard is having tons of fun playing out his senior season with his hoops family and with his first college scholarship offer in hand, hopes to finish things off with a repeat championship.
“The schedule we’re playing – we’re playing to win another state title,” Nicoli said. “And we’re only going to do that together and playing Western basketball. It all starts on defense – we can shoot lights out on offense but if we’re not bringing it every night on the defensive end, we’re not going to play how we do.”
Nicoli is undoubtedly a key piece of the puzzle for the Pioneers. A deadeye shooter, he’s worked on improving his off-the-dribble game and he’s absolutely relentless on defense. He credits it all to the team. “I feel like it’s come a long way since freshman year,” Nicoli said. “Growing up with these guys, they’re like family. They push me every single day to be my best and I am so grateful for them.”
The senior is bearing the fruit of his rewards and his hopes of playing at the college level are coming to fruition. “I just got my first offer from Missouri Baptist in St. Louis,” Nicoli said. “I sent them some videos – I have some references there – and the coach called me and we’ve been in contact. He liked how I shoot and how I play, how I don’t give up. January 11th is when I’m going to take a visit. It’s pretty cool.”
Multnomah was at one of Nicoli’s games recently and while he’s no doubt liking what he’s hard from Missouri Baptist, he’s keeping things open for the moment. “God has a plan and I’m just going to trust it,” Nicoli said. “Probably around the time of Pendleton (the 2A state tournament) I’ll make a decision. I’m going to see how this season goes.”
How it goes is hopefully the state championship but there are still games to play. Western Christian has plenty of tough competition the rest of 2019 with tournaments in Dayton and Lynden, Washington and also The Eight of the Les Schwab Invitational. “The rest of the year we’ve still got a tough schedule,” Nicoli said. “Being in The Eight, that’s pretty cool for a small school to be in the competition. Every night we’re going to bring our best.”
Nicoli currently ranks as the #78 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2020 rankings.