Unsigned Senior Spotlight - Declan Nugent
New England Storm and Berwick Academy senior Declan Nugent has taken both his body and his game to new levels within the last year.
He's one of the those prospects, that if you haven't seen him recently, he haven't seen him at all, because physically, he's in a totally different place then he was a year ago.
Coming off a strong senior campaign, Nugent already has several prominent small colleges suitors with increasing division II interest, but remains open in his process.
By the Numbers
Academics: 2.9 GPA & 1130 SAT
2019 Stats: 15ppg, 7rpg, 3bpg, 44% FG, 31% 3pt (41 total 3's made), 72% FT
Height: 6'5"
Wingspan: 6'7"
Reach: 7'11"
Jump: 10'5"
Athletic Awards and Accolades
- All NEPSAC Class C 2019-2020 honorable mention
- 1st Team 2019-2020 Eastern Independent League All Star
- All Star - Hoop Group Academic Elite 2 July 29th 2019
- Team Captain Berwick Varsity Basketball 2019-2020 season
- #25 NERR Maine Player 2020 Rankings
Personal Statement
"I consider myself a versatile player who's long and athletic. I can guard 1-5, run, dunk, shoot and handle the ball. I like to get out in front of the fast break, breakdown the defense and throw down a dunk"
Recommendation
"Declan is a versatile off-guard that can score and defend against any level. His size and strength allow him to guard big guards, while his quickness and athleticism allow him to guard smaller ones. The strength of his game is his ability to adjust to the game whether it be the way he is being guarded, or the variance of players he guards on the defensive end.
Offensively, Declan is very good in the open court. He is constantly sprinting the floor and getting ahead of the ball looking for scoring opportunities. Declan is special inside the arc. His ability to get to his spots allow him to excel as a scorer. The absolute best part of his game is his pull up jump shot. He can get around screens and up in the air before the defender has time to recover. When getting to the basket, he doesn’t back down and is not afraid to try to throw down a dunk in traffic.
Defensively he is long and athletic. He can sag off a defender and still challenge any shot. His strength and size make it tough for smaller guards to score on him. Whether he is guarding a point guard or a forward, he will figure out a way to impact the game.
Declan is a kid that if put into an atmosphere where there are clear expectations and goals, he will exceed those expectations and reach his goals period. When he is challenged, he is at his best. It is very clear his best basketball is ahead of him. He will only continue to get better."
- Tyrce Gibbs, Head Coach, Berwick Academy
"The most intriguing aspect of Declan's game is that he has the frame to play at the next level as a versatile wing, both inside and out. He's strong enough to battle inside as he's 6'5" and developing physically at 190 lbs. Offensively, inside he is a crafty finisher off of one or two feet and plays above the rim. His footwork is advanced, as he constantly gets defenders in the air and capitalizes. On the perimeter, he will catch you by surprise as he's continuously improving his three point shot and has become a reliable rhythm shooter. Defensively he does a great job using his body battling down low for rebounds, while he's athletic enough to extend to the perimeter and guard off the dribble."
- Jaryd Piecuch, Boys High School Director, New England Storm
Scouting Report
With each passing year, Nugent has gotten stronger, more explosive, and yet simultaneously been able to extend his game farther away from the basket with more consistency. He's probably still most effective from 15-feet and in, whether that's running lanes and finishing above the rim with power in transition, getting downhill without any wasted motion off the dribble, or finding gaps for his pull-ups. He's also now a spot-up threat that opposing defenses have to respect out to the three-point line. He also has the potential to take the ball off the glass and start the break himself. Defensively, he's potentially even more versatile as he's come up the ranks as a big wing but is increasingly capable of bodying up with bigger guys inside as he's now adding muscle mass to his frame at a rapid rate.
Video Highlights
Declan Nugent