Boys Basketball: Freshman Nixon Already Making His Mark

Freshman year terrifies many students, but Prentiss Nixon is taking the challenging year head on. 

The -product has already made the varsity basketball team at as a shooting guard and has the prestigious University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign trying to recruit him.

All this attention might be challenging for a youngster, but Nixon is humble throughout.

“I just can’t get big-headed,” said the 6-foot Nixon, who has been to Champaign three times in the last two months. “Even though I’m a freshman and getting looked at, I have to stay humble and keep doing what I do to make myself, teammates and the program better.”

Nixon played AAU basketball for the Illinois Wolves from 5th through 7th grade, which has given him an edge in making the varsity squad.

“It’s been a big help for me knowing I was already playing against people this age,” Nixon said. “I’m already above the talent level I was in 8th grade, I’m coming up playing against people who are better than me.”

According to Bolingbrook head coach Rob Brost, it’s highly unusual having a freshman make the varsity squad.

“I’ve been here for five years and we’ve never had a freshman on varsity,” Brost said. “That being said, he is very talented and skilled. We are not going to rely on him by any means. We are a team first and he understands that. They all understand that.”

Senior guards Cam Burnett and Nick Malonga are both impressed with Nixon’s skill set and his attitude.

Burnett, , said it was no surprise to see Nixon's name on the varsity roster. 

Malonga said Nixon's toughness has really stood out.

“He’s got to be more mentally tough a bit," Malonga said. "He can’t stress when he makes a turnover and he needs to go back on defense. He needs to work and play hard every day. If he does that, he can be very good by the time he becomes a senior.”

Nixon said he wants to help his teammates succeed.

“I could shoot very well; I can get my teammates open and I love giving my teammates the ball,” Nixon said. “I’m a big man on assists. I want to work on ball-handling and help defense. Those are things I’ve got to work on. With ball-handling, I’ve got to run the point. And in help defense, I need to help my teammates if they get beat to the bucket.”

Nixon’s hobby, he said, is basketball 24/7. He goes to the gym to work on his shooting and ball-handling skills in his spare time.

His ultimate goal is becoming an NBA player and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant is his favorite player for his scoring and athleticism.

Before he meets that goal, Brost will make sure he focuses on school and high school basketball as future recruiters might soon make him a national prospect.

“He is going to remain focused because that is what we’re going to demand from him,” Brost said. “He is very coach able and he will remain coach able because that is the expectation we have for him. We’re going to push him like we push the other guys to improve each practice. When that happens, the sky’s the limit for him.”