Top 50 shooting guard Josh Nickelberry a major target
COLORADO SPRINGS -- His sophomore season has just finished up, but shooting guard Josh Nickelberry is one of the most wanted players in the country.
Offers have already come in from North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Clemson, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Providence, Penn State, USC, Virginia Tech and others and Nickelberry seems to add a few more each week.
One offer did catch Nickelberry by surprise.
"It was crazy when UNC offered," said Nickelberry. "I would have never thought that I would get an offer from North Carolina that early. I have a great relationship with them, especially coach Roy Williams, so it was great."
Headed to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill for his junior season, Nickelberry is a big-time scorer who has had a strong spring playing with Game Elite on the adidas Uprising Circuit. He feels he has more to offer than his smooth jump shot.
"I've gotten a lot better and the exposure has been there from getting with the right people and playing with the right team," Nickelberry said. "I've been playing a lot better, I'm working on playing an all-around game and getting better with my defense and rebounding to go with my scoring.
"When people hear about me they hear that I'm a scorer but I feel I can facilitate, rebound and do anything to help my team win."
Nickelberry also discussed some of the other relatively local programs that have offered.
Wake Forest: "They were actually my first ACC offer and I've been over there like three or four times for games to talk with the coaches and just talk with the players. The relationship is really good."
Clemson: "They are saying many of the same things really. They like the way I score, my size and my length. I've been up there to talk to the players and coaches at a football game."
N.C. State: "I've talked to Kevin Keatts a couple of times and I've talked to the assistant coach. He's a real good coach and he's a real good guy. I think he knows what he's doing."
Though Nickelberry is in no rush to make a decision, he at least wants to get the process moving some. Look for an initial list cut before too long and then he'll do a deeper dive over the next year.
"I'm thinking probably at the end of the summer, after the second live period I'd like to start narrowing it down," said Nickelberry. "I'm thinking 15 or something like that because it's still early.
"I'm looking for a school has to have a great coaching staff. It has to be a great institution academically and I want to go somewhere that I can play my style of game and I fit the system."