Coming in as a relative unknown outside of deeply entrenched sources in New England, Nicol used the spring and summer to assert himself as arguably the top long-term prospect on the entire HGSL circuit. The jumbo guard played up on the 17U circuit and consistently showcased a high-level blend of positional size, feel for the game, shotmaking ability, and budding athleticism. He’s effective playing both on and off the ball, making quick decisions to punish whatever advantage the defense presents. His ability to create for himself and others at his size, as well as knock down shots from the perimeter at an efficient clip, makes for an enticing recipe for high-major programs to begin delving into.

Nicol, a rising junior at Ellington High School in Connecticut, may have increased his stock as much as anyone in the region this spring. A jumbo, decision-making guard, he has the ability to operate in a variety of ways in the half-court. He’s got a smooth offensive game, doesn’t get sped up with the ball in his hands, and uses his size to see over the defense as a passer. He scores it from all three levels and has more burst off the bounce than he gets credit for. His feel, decision-making, and pace all make him an attractive prospect at the next level. On the other end of the floor, his combination of size, length, and mobility should allow him to be a disruptive perimeter defender. In my eyes, he’s a scholarship level prospect that will be popular with college coaches this summer.

Nicol is ridiculously intriguing. The 6-foot-6 wing can shoot it from three (he has beautiful rotation on his shot and gets it off quickly), but he also has above-the-rim athleticism and dunked on some guys when I saw him Saturday. With the ball in his hands, he looks comfortable and skilled, so he can get to the spots he wants on the court despite being skinny and lanky. Nicol makes simple reads and can play a nice role, but he also seems to have some untapped potential if he can continue to put on muscle and get the ball in his hands a bit more. If you told me he would be the best player to come out of this tournament in 5 years, I wouldn’t be shocked.

Nicol was impressive with his ability to touch the game in different facets. He scored the ball in different ways and showed that he could string together points when he got into a groove. His length and reach came into play when finding ways to rebound and collect steals. Nicol process the game at a high level and has a great feel for the game.