Prospect Profile

Strengths:
* 7-foot-4 wingspan
* Good shot blocker
* Good rebounder
* Variety of post moves
* Has face-up jump shot past the 3-point line

Weaknesses:
* Scouts want to see him make corner 3-pointer consistently
* Has to continue to get stronger
* Can cut down on turnovers
* Some scouts have questioned the consistency of his intensity level

NBA projection:
Nicholson is projected as a first-round pick. He’ll be able to help an NBA team because he’s got a wide range of skills on both ends of the floor. His long arms will help him defend in the post, and he’s also got a jump hook that he can squeeze off against taller defenders. His face-up game is developed to the point where he can step out and make NBA-range 3-pointers.

2011-12 Season:
Nicholson earned Atlantic 10 player-of-the-year honors and led his team to the A-10 tournament championship, earning MOP honors after racking up 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots in the title game against Xavier. The win gave SBU its first NCAA tournament berth since 2000. Nicholson became the only player in A-10 history to win four consecutive player-of-the-week awards after averaging 25.3 points and 11.3 rebounds over the final eight league games of the season.

Key statistics:
18.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.5 tpg, 2.0 bpg, 23.2 mpg, .571 FG, .434 3PT, .776 FT

Cool statistic:
Nicholson finished his career second in school history in points (2,103), field-goal percentage (.575) and blocked shots (244).

Reminds me of:
Craig Brackins

What Insiders Say:
St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt
"He’s our go-to guy. He’s a special talent. From a coaching standpoint, when you need a basket, you can draw something up for him, and you know he’ll get a good look. It’s not going to go in every time, but you know you’re going to get a good look."

St. Bonaventure assistant coach Dave Moore:
"His outside game has come along. We tried to develop him in the lowepost his first year and then move him out to the mid post his second year and step him out to three his third year. He’s kinda of put everything together now, where he’s really impossible to guard one-on-one."

What Outsiders Say:
Richmond assistant coach Kevin McGeehan
"He’s really terrific. He’s so, so good in the post. He can score every which way. And if you worry about all the damage he can do to you in the post, they’ll run a play outside the foul line, and he can make that shot every time. He’s also really improved as a 3-point shooter. Tough, tough kid to guard."

-- Profile by Chris Dortch, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Follow him @cdortch.