“It happened very quickly," Nicol recalled. "(In 2021) COVID pushed everything back to May. Hitting the game-winner in that game really put my name on the scene, I believe. Then in June, I went to my first Elite Camp at Youngstown State and I had a really good showing and they offered me then. That was kind of the start of it.
"A few days later Radford offered me; couple of days later I went up to Ohio and they offered me. It was just a process after that, a couple of visits but it was definitely something I enjoyed.”
So why commit to be a Bobcat?
“I have great relationships with the people at Ohio,” he said. “From head coach (Jeff) Boals to the assistants to the staff managers and players. Being close to home is also nice.
“You think of a 'college town' and that’s what Athens is. It’s tight-knit, everything’s close; anyone I’ve talked to that’s gone there has never had anything bad to say. And of course, growing up and going to football games and stuff like that. I’ve always been close to Athens.”
In recent years the Bobcats have been growing into a pseudo-power in the MAC, their less successful seasons still breaking the .500 mark. After making it into the second round of the CBI in the 2021-22 season, the Bobcats went 19-14 and lost in the second round of the MAC tournament this past season and missed out on a national tournament. And though the program is successful, his mom may have had some influence, too.
“She wanted me to go home,” he said. “She never said she would (give her opinion), but I knew internally she wanted me to.”
One of the beautiful things about basketball is that the underdog often gets the upper hand, especially at the high school and college levels. Take a look at the NCAA tournaments this year and, though it's an extreme example, you'll see that's inarguably true.
And though upsets are exciting for many, we often overlook those on the losing side of the coin. Unfortunately for Ben Nicol and the George Washington boys’ basketball team, that was the hand they were dealt last week in the Class 4A state tournament. Held just over the ridge from their home on the hill, the second-ranked Patriots fell to No. 7 Jefferson in the quarterfinals. It was the end of not just another fantastic season for GW but also Nicol’s quest for two state titles, looking to add one to the shelf after he pulled off a game-winning shot in the 2021 state title game.
The good news for the 6-foot-7 Nicol, however, is that his career isn’t over. A standout player in West Virginia, Nicol’s skills have earned him a spot in Division I with Ohio University, his mother’s alma mater and a program that’s just upriver from his hometown. Interestingly, despite his impressive skillset and passion for the game, Nicol believes that his journey may not have been the same had he not hit the game-winner.
BEN
NICOL
New Balance
‘990v5’
Senior
Combo Guard
George Washington HS
Ohio University Commit
Wing Guard
The Kicks
New Balance 990v5
Release / 2019
Fun fact / The fifth iteration of one of the most popular sneakers ever produced, was the first to use the slate grey color
When the question 'What's your favorite sneaker? was met with 'the New Balance 990s,' there was an instant understanding of a piece of Nicol's personality.
The 990 is one of the most iconic sneakers ever created., though Nicol's favorite is the 990v5, the fifth installment of the sneaker that was released a few years ago. While they've certainly had miles put on them, New Balances tend to take aging well, dirt becoming somewhat of a patina. And while many factors rank the v5s a the top of his list, nostalgia plays the biggest role.
“My dad grew up on New Balances, so I always wanted to be like him,” Nicol said. “He had a pair of 993s that he had in rotation; he’d have a clean one, a dirty one, an extra dirty one, and it goes with everything. I’ve always loved 990s.”
And, like his dad, Nicol has a few pairs, too.
“They’re so comfy,” he said. “I like all the colorways, I have a navy colorway as well, but this is probably my second or third pair. They’re comfortable, go with a lot of outfits, I wear a lot of baggy clothes, so it (fits) that vibe.”
And, when you dive deep into Nicol’s love for the game, you can see he values the nostalgia around his upbringing in the game as much as his sneakers.
It also revolves around one man, his coach, Rick Greene.
Greene, one of the most winning coaches in West Virginia, not only helped Nicol become the basketball player he is over the last four years but he also helped Nicol fall in love with the game well before he stepped into the halls of GW as a freshman at GW's summer youth basketball camp.
“There’s countless memories of the simple summer camp that a lot of (kids attend),” Nicol said. “Hoops on the Hill, it’s just about being with your friends and eating too much pizza until you’re sick and it was always something you looked forward to."
So when Nicol did make the varsity team his freshman year, there was no pressure being part of one of the more storied programs in the state.
“We had a lot of seniors that year,” he remembered. “There were four of them and three juniors and two sophomores that also played so it was definitely a change of pace. I trusted coach Greene and had heard a lot of good things about him. He’s always put trust in me as a player, so a lot of credit to him for making me dive into the water but also making sure he had my back.
“I didn’t think it was a lot of pressure because I had a lot of guys ahead of me that could show me the ropes, and there’s been an all-state guy here every year I’ve been here so it’s been nothing but fun.”
One of those guys was William Gabbert who was recruited by Wheeling University. Nicol recounted looking up to Gabbert from as early as the 6th grade and that he emulated his game after him, but the most important characteristic he drew from was Gabbert’s confidence.
“Seeing him thrive gave me confidence,” Nicol added.
Now that's carrying him into a new phase of his career. Needless to say, though joining an elite club of former standout GW basketball players, Nicol will continue to move through his next four years maintaining his good vibes and, likely, doing so in his New Balances.