January 28, 2010
Nelson is breaking out
Chris Petersen, the head coach of the much celebrated Boise State football program, is a native of Yuba City and easily arguable as the top sports figure connected to the area. Not that he’s worried about losing his perch, but Petersen is gaining some competition. Namely, 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior Zach Nelson, who is opening some eyes as the premiere player for Yuba City High and the Tri-County League.
Yuba was led in scoring, assists and steals by backcourter Tyler Fry last season. Nelson made his impression as the Honkers’ rebounding (7.0) and blocked shots leader (2.8) while contributing 14.7 points per game. But Fry graduated and this season it’s Nelson in the forefront to the tune of a 23.7 points and 14 rebounds double-double a game in addition to 5+ shot rejections each time on the court.
Nelson has also put up five 30 point games so far and "he would have scored more but I’ve pulled him from games when we were way ahead," per Kurt Grahl, Yuba’s head coach.
On top of this, Nelson is a coach’s dream. According to Grahl,who is in his initial season as Yuba City’s head coach after a long coaching tenure in the Stockton area, his big man is a "high character, high integrity guy who is a hardworker in the classroom and on the court."
Previously more of a follow-my-example type of leader, Nelson is adding becoming more expressive on the court to his repertoire. "I’m pushing him to be more vocal and he is embracing and growing into it," said Grahl. Nelson concurred, "I’m trying to step it up more."
His coach sees Nelson as a player with "good hands and good footwork who bought into my style of getting up and down the floor." Grahl has emphasized spacing and ball movement to his team, thus allowing his protege to "do his thing in space."
Asked about his best basketball skills, Nelson responded with "probably my low post moves and ability to run the floor well." Conversely, he is working to improve his perimeter defense as he realizes he will probably be a wing at the next level.
He sees his father as his biggest basketball influence since "he has been there my whole life and always supported me."
Asked about his best basketball moment, Nelson recalled a team success, not an individual one. It took place in agame last February when a Honker teammate hit a game-winning three-pointer at the end to beat rival Inderkum on the road.
As for recruiting, interest has definitely expanded even though Nelson has taken a route a bit different than most. That is, he played as a member of the Yuba City High squad during spring and summer ball. The Honkers did play in Las Vegas and such but just not as members of a so-called all-star team. One additional benefit of this arrangement is "we were able to work on conditioning and strength training as a team," Grahl offered.
UC Irvine and Humboldt State were both recently at a practice, with UC Davis, Sacramento State, Chico State and Sonoma State also displaying interest in Nelson.
What might intrigue recruiters even more is that Nelson doesn’t turn 18 until after the season. Also, Nelson will take a two-year church mission at some point during college as part of his LDS faith.
Nelson’ academics are fine, plus he is enrolled in various honors classes and is looking to major in business accounting in college.
Good with numbers, good at putting up numbers, all rolled into one.