Trinity Christian standout sophomores guide team to win at Joe Miller Invitational
Trinity Christian's Joey Baker and Josh Nickelberry are both in the top 100 of 247sports.com's class of 2019 national rankings.
By Jackson Fuller StarNews Correspondent
Joey Baker and Josh Nickelberry are getting a unique experience in their college basketball recruitments.
The sophomores from Trinity Christian High School in Fayetteville are both ranked in the top 100 nationally in the 2019 class by 247sports.com. Major schools such as UNC and N.C. State are in the thick of their recruitment.
Fortunately for Baker and Nickelberry, they have each other for guidance and support. It’s not often two teammates in the same class get to share this sometimes-stressful experience, and they’re thankful to be going through it together.
“We can bounce ideas off each other and compare schools,” Nickelberry said. “It makes things a lot easier when trying to figure out what’s the best fit.”
Baker and Nickelberry are in Wilmington this week for the inaugural Joe Miller Invitational. After starting the event with a loss 72-62 loss to New Hanover in a showcase game, the Crusaders bounced back and defeated Lincoln Charter 59-58 in the opening round of the Trot Nixon Bracket on Wednesday.
Baker and Nickelberry were at the heart of Trinity Christian’s comeback win. The Crusaders erased an 11-point deficit at halftime. Nickelberry scored a team-high 18 points, while Baker chipped in 12.
“We just had to come out a little more aggressive and want it more. Good things just started happening,” Baker said.
The win moves Trinity Christian into the semifinals, where they will take on Word of God from Raleigh at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Baker, a 6-foot-7 small forward, currently holds 10 offers. He says UNC, N.C. State and Texas are schools he’s hearing from the most.
Nickelberry is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard with eight scholarship offers. Like Baker, he has UNC and N.C. State at the top of his list, along with UCLA and Xavier.
Aside from the support they feed each other, Baker and Nickelberry have a unique opportunity to play with each other at the next level. The two Fayetteville natives are coy about the chances they decide on the same college, but it’s an exciting option.
“We definitely won’t rule it out,” Baker said. “But that’s something we will have to decide down the road.”
Reporter Jackson Fuller can be reached at 910-343-2262 or Jackson.Fuller@StarNewsOnline.com
Trinity Christian's Joey Baker and Josh Nickelberry are both in the top 100 of 247sports.com's class of 2019 national rankings.
By Jackson Fuller StarNews Correspondent
Joey Baker and Josh Nickelberry are getting a unique experience in their college basketball recruitments.
The sophomores from Trinity Christian High School in Fayetteville are both ranked in the top 100 nationally in the 2019 class by 247sports.com. Major schools such as UNC and N.C. State are in the thick of their recruitment.
Fortunately for Baker and Nickelberry, they have each other for guidance and support. It’s not often two teammates in the same class get to share this sometimes-stressful experience, and they’re thankful to be going through it together.
“We can bounce ideas off each other and compare schools,” Nickelberry said. “It makes things a lot easier when trying to figure out what’s the best fit.”
Baker and Nickelberry are in Wilmington this week for the inaugural Joe Miller Invitational. After starting the event with a loss 72-62 loss to New Hanover in a showcase game, the Crusaders bounced back and defeated Lincoln Charter 59-58 in the opening round of the Trot Nixon Bracket on Wednesday.
Baker and Nickelberry were at the heart of Trinity Christian’s comeback win. The Crusaders erased an 11-point deficit at halftime. Nickelberry scored a team-high 18 points, while Baker chipped in 12.
“We just had to come out a little more aggressive and want it more. Good things just started happening,” Baker said.
The win moves Trinity Christian into the semifinals, where they will take on Word of God from Raleigh at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Baker, a 6-foot-7 small forward, currently holds 10 offers. He says UNC, N.C. State and Texas are schools he’s hearing from the most.
Nickelberry is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard with eight scholarship offers. Like Baker, he has UNC and N.C. State at the top of his list, along with UCLA and Xavier.
Aside from the support they feed each other, Baker and Nickelberry have a unique opportunity to play with each other at the next level. The two Fayetteville natives are coy about the chances they decide on the same college, but it’s an exciting option.
“We definitely won’t rule it out,” Baker said. “But that’s something we will have to decide down the road.”
Reporter Jackson Fuller can be reached at 910-343-2262 or Jackson.Fuller@StarNewsOnline.com
