Nick Weiss is a big-time college basketball recruit.
The Kamiak High School senior is known around the country for his skill, leadership and savvy. In a recent tournament he averaged 23.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, four assists and 3.8 steals.
If you haven’t heard of Weiss, it’s because he plays a type of basketball that gets far less exposure than the traditional variety of hoops.
But in his sport, Weiss is a star.
Weiss plays for the Jr. Sonics, a wheelchair basketball program offered by Seattle Adaptive Sports. A fourth-year member of the Jr. Sonics varsity team, Weiss is a sought-after standout who helped the squad advance to national tournaments the past several years.
Now, as Weiss looks to the future, he ponders the doors that opened because of his vast abilities, both athletic and academic.
Several well-known universities around the country (the University of Arizona, the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington, to name a few) have Division-I wheelchair basketball teams. The top dog, arguably, in collegiate men’s wheelchair basketball is the University of Illinois, and that distinguished program recruited Weiss.
“Nick’s constantly improved each year we’ve seen him,” said Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball head coach Mike Frogley, who tracked Weiss’ progress for several years. “He’s got lots of potential with all his skills.”
Those skills, Frogley said, include not just Weiss’ basketball prowess but also the Kamiak senior’s attitude and academic excellence.
Weiss, who submitted his NCAA National Letter of Intent to Illinois on Friday, plans to study computer science in Illinois’ prestigious College of Engineering. He expects to receive a partial athletic scholarship as well as other financial aid.
“There’s nothing better than playing ball, and when you get an amazing education with that, that’s awesome. I’m going to take this as far as I can. I love it more than anything,” Weiss said after a recent regional tournament game at Kentwood High School in Covington.
Wheelchair basketball players have a wide range of disabilities. Weiss has cerebral palsy, an incurable disorder that prevents his legs from functioning normally. He was not diagnosed until age 2 after he was delayed in learning to walk, said Eric Weiss, Nick’s dad.
Nick Weiss can walk but has an awkward style because of his disability. It didn’t stop him from playing a variety of so-called able-bodied sports throughout his youth. He competed in baseball, football and wrestling. In fact, he was featured in The Herald in March 2006 for being a determined member of the Harbour Pointe Middle School wrestling squad.
But eventually Weiss got hooked on wheelchair basketball. It was a better fit for many reasons, he said.
“I can be competitive. I really didn’t feel super competitive with wrestling and football,” said Weiss. “You’re just not the same. You kind of feel out of place. Here (in wheelchair basketball), you fit in really well.”
On the court, Weiss is everywhere. He uses his considerable upper-body strength to control the paint, makes smart passes, barks instructions to young teammates, and, of course, scores baskets from a variety of angles.
“I love his work ethic on the court. He has a great motor. He just never quits. He’s always pushing,” said coach Frogley.
“He is the leader,” said Jr. Sonics varsity co-coach Paul Meyer. “He has a really quiet confidence that makes the other players (calm).
“He directs traffic out there,” Meyer added, “and that’s really important because in wheelchair basketball you need to communicate more than in able-bodied basketball.”
That’s because it’s harder for wheelchair-bound athletes to scan the entire court, Meyer said. Players must first focus on using their hands to control their specially designed lightweight chairs and make quick moves.
At the regional tournament in Covington on Jan. 23, Weiss was clearly the most aggressive and often the fastest player on the court in a game against a squad from Utah. The only thing that slowed him down was foul trouble, which forced him to the bench for part of the second half.
Even on the sidelines, Weiss’ enthusiasm and leadership was apparent. That is extra important this season because all of Weiss’ teammates are new to the varsity level. After steadily improving throughout the winter, the Jr. Sonics, a co-ed team, placed third at the West Coast Regional.
Next up for the squad is a tournament in Berkeley, Calif., where the Jr. Sonics will try to qualify for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association National Championships (April 7-11 in Denver).
Getting there is a major focus for Weiss, but he also can’t help thinking about his bright future.
“I dream about it all the time,” he said.
At Illinois, Weiss hopes to drastically improve his basketball skills, compete for college championships and maybe even get selected for the Paralympic Games, an elite multi-sport competition for disabled athletes around the world.
If he truly yearns to achieve the latter goal, Weiss is headed to the right place. Illinois has a reputation for producing Paralympic athletes.
“I’m nothing compared to what I hope to be in a couple years. (Coach Frogley is) going to (push) me every day,” Weiss said. “It’s going to be hard, but it will be fun.”
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
