Nichols Still Favors Syracuse

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND -- St. Andrew's head coach Mike Hart spent part of his weekend watching Demetris Nichols and his other players compete at the Hoop Group's AAU event this past weekend.

Nichols wants to play with the T5T Playaz AAU program for most of the summer. This particular program is stacked with high division one players.

Hart said that Nichols will also compete next weekend at the Charlie Weber tournament on the campus of Villanova University. "Demetris will play in the event and then take a visit around the campus after the event is over," Hart told us. "I think he will have a decision by May 1st."

Hart said that Nichols, 6-7, is also seriously considering Providence. Seton Hall appears to be a longshot though Hart said the Pirates are still alive in this recruiting process. "He is still leaning to Syracuse right now," Hart said.

"Whether that remains that way only Demetris knows. It will probably depend upon how well his visit goes and whether something different changes his mind with another school."

Nichols is a player with nice upside. He is being counted on to play the wing. But for him to become a solid wing player on the college level, he will need to hit his perimeter shot with more consistency. There is no doubt that Nichols can battle you inside. He is agile along the baseline and has the size to challenge big bodies in the paint. Demetris is a member of the 2003 class.