The point guard position is the toughest position to play in basketball, especially now with the growing expectation for a point guard to score in addition to playmaking. Nijel Pack can give you both and lead you to wins.
Sophomore starting point guards in the MIC Conference, one of the toughest in the country, are rare, but there was Pack playing a huge role for 16-7 Lawrence Central. Pack’s play helped lead the Bears to a Top 15 state ranking with averages of 13 points and 4 assists for a balanced team. Those 16 wins included two huge, unexpected victories over county rival Lawrence North. The first one came early in the season by a score of 66-57. To prove it wasn’t a fluke, they also took a 57-52 win over the Wildcats in the sectional on its way to the sectional championship, a hard fought 47-42 loss to eventual state champion Warren Central.
“It was a great feeling to beat our rival, and we worked hard all week as a team to prepare for battle against them”, says Pack.
Lawrence Central Head Coach Al Gooden thinks highly of is prized point guard.
“I think Nijel can be a player that averages a double/double for the season”, says Gooden. “He can do so many things and is the best athlete on our team”.
Pack stands about 6’0” but is very long and can dunk with two hands. He uses that length well in the passing lanes for steals and is a top on the ball defender. His leadership is even more evident at the AAU level playing for Indiana Elite, arguably the best 2020 team in the nation. After a blistering season last summer, the team has started this spring 8-0 on the Adidas Gauntlet in April and also has won the Spiece Run N’ Slam and the Adidas May Classic tournaments this month. Pack is averaging 15 points and 7 assists so far in the spring. Indiana Elite founder and 2020 coach Mike Fox raves about Pack.
“Nijel is a threat offensively with the pass, pull up or the 3-point shot, and has a had very strong spring”, says Fox. “I think he’s the best 2020 point guard in the state”.
With the way Pack has played during the high school season and so far in April/May, he has a strong argument. Surprisingly, he hasn’t received any offers yet, but that won’t be the case for long. He has interest from a variety of D1 schools, including Xavier and Butler. He reminds me activity wise of a Jalen Brunson (Villanova) and can equally run a team, initiate the pick and role and also score. He has had a game high of 23 points in April on the Adidas Gaunlter playing against some of the best competition in the country. His 3.7 GPA and high basketball IQ will make him a hot commodity the rest of the spring and summer. But he wants more.
“I’m looking to demonstrate leadership and defensive energy that coach Gooden taught me”, says Pack. “I also want to be an even better leader, work on my jumper being more consistent and being able to put my teammates in great position to score”. This is a scary thought for the competition. Pack is already shooting over 50% overall from the field and 50%+ from the 3-point line in the spring.
Look for Nijel Pack’s recruitment to explode soon. He has it all and has demonstrated the ability to play at the next level against the strongest of competition.
