WHY NIAGARA?
“I chose Niagara because they have a great coaching staff and the people on campus are terrific. I liked the location of the university, too, allowing me to get a great education.”
2008-09 (SOPHOMORE)
Started 34 games as the point guard, helping the team to 26 wins, the second-most in program history...Owns school’s all-time assist per game record with 5.32...Handed out 186 assists, the fourth best single-season total in program history...186 assists was the most by a Niagara sophomore...Averaged 8.1 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game...Boasted a 2.5-to-1 assists/turnover ratio...Totaled three multiple assist-zero turnover games...Ranked second in the MAAC with 5.5 apg and a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio and eighth with 1.5 spg...Handed out a season-high 11 assists with zero turnovers against Rider (2/18)...Recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists against Siena (1/24)...Tallied 11 points, eight assists and no turnovers in a win over Siena (2/27)...Scored in double figures 14 times...Recorded a career-best 21 points in MAAC Semifinal win over Rider (3/8)...Totaled 20 points in win at Loyola (12/7)...Tallied 16 points, seven assists and a season-best four steals at Chattanooga (12/30)...Averaged 10.0 ppg, 5.7 apg and 4.0 rpg in MAAC Tournament...Added 14 points and seven assists in NIT game (3/17).
2007-08 (FRESHMAN)
Member of the MAAC All-Rookie Team...Started all 29 games, averaging 5.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 35.7 minutes...Recorded the second-most assists (149) by any Niagara freshman in school history, two short of the record (Gary Bossert - 151 - 1985-86)...Assist total (149) and average (5.14) rank eighth all-time in school annals...Handed out a career-high 12 assists in fourth career game, against St. Bonaventure (11/28)...Ranked second in the MAAC with 5.1 assists per game and third with 35.7 minutes per game...Had three multiple assist/zero turnover games [at St. John’s (4/0), vs. Loyola (9/0), and vs. Canisius (6/0)] all victories...Handed out 10 assists in home win over Rider (12/6)...Scored a career-best 14 points against Siena (1/11)...Tallied double-digit point totals in five games, including 13 in first collegiate game, vs. Central Michigan (11/16)...Had a career-high six steals at Iona (1/3)...Pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds at Fairfield (1/27)...Had 13 games with at least five rebounds...Played 30-or-more minutes in 25 games, including 40 on two occasions.
PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Fourth team all-state by NJ Hoops and MVP of the Surf-n-Slam Tournament in California...Led Cardinals to a 21-7 record, Watchung Conference American Division title and final NJ Hoops ranking of 10th in the state...Averaged 17 points, six rebounds and five assists as a senior...Averaged 18.7 points and earned third team all-state as a junior...Team went 23-5 and won conference title...Underclass and Top 20 All-Star at Eastern Invitational Camp, named all-tournament at the Bob Gibbons Tournament and attended the adidas All-American Camp.
PERSONAL
Born in Plainfield, N.J....Son of James Nelson and Icilda Richards...Has two older brothers, Victor and Marcus, and two older sisters, Victoria and Roxine...Majoring in communications.
