ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: David Nickelberry

Windermere Preparatory School junior guard David Nickelberry received a scholarship offer last week from the University of Central Florida, the nearest of 10 Division I programs interested in him as of press time. He is ranked 124th among all players in the Class of 2017 by Yahoo! and is preparing for his first game as a Laker after transferring from The First Academy.

What was your reaction when you got word of the offer from UCF?

I was excited. They've been following me since I was (in) ninth grade. I like to get offers from my hometown and around Florida.

What other offers have you gotten so far?

I've gotten Memphis, George Mason -- FGSU (Florida Gulf Coast) should be offering me soon; their coach will be coming down -- Stephen F. Austin and others.

Is there anywhere else you're looking at?

I'm looking at Florida State. Florida State has high interest in me now, so I'm excited about that. Oklahoma likes me right now, as well.

When did you start playing organized basketball?

I started playing basketball when I was 5 or 6. My mom was my coach, actually. She's played basketball for 20 years. She played in California -- I'm originally from California.

What part?

Huntington Beach.

What else made you interested in starting to play?

Really watching Kobe Bryant play. When he first started, I was very young. I was always watching and remember having the No. 8 jersey -- the team jersey.

Does that make you a Los Angeles Lakers guy?

Oh, yes, most definitely. I've always been a Lakers fan.

Do you have a favorite sport you like to play or watch other than basketball?

Football. College football is so exciting. I like the atmosphere.

Do you have a favorite memory here so far?

I played at FSU this summer. I really loved it. We made it all the way to the semifinals and we should have beaten a team that was very weak. We were tired, had five games that day.

What do like to do in your free time?

I like to hang out with friends, family -- that's what's most important to me. My mom's always got me surrounding myself with the right people.

Are there any majors you're considering for college?

Most definitely, I like sports management. I want to get into maybe one day becoming a manager if basketball doesn't work out, but I'm really hoping basketball works out.

What's your favorite subject in school?

I like math, actually. It may seem hard, but I like the challenge -- good challenge.

What's something not many people know about you?

I'm actually a very talkative person. When I walk around in school, people might think I'm quiet, but I'm pretty talkative.

--Zak Kerr