Prentiss Nixon, a 2015 point guard prospect from Bolingbrook, Illinois, has improved his game by leaps and bounds the summer.
This past weekend at Spiece Fieldhouse for GRBA Nationals, while capping off a successful AAU campaign, the youngster explained his hard work this summer.
“At the beginning I was working on my jumpshot but then my jumpshot got better,” Nixon said. “And now I’m working on being a real point guard and getting my handles up so at the next level I can play the one and the two.”
Nixon is a 6-foot-1 lightning-quick combo guard with a silky jumper. His jumpshot is smooth and consistent and, more often than not, finds the bottom of the basket.
Nixon’s challenge this summer was getting better at other phases of the game besides shooting – becoming a complete player. He has worked hard to establish a more versatile game.
“I think he’s improved his shooting, he’s improved his defense, he’s learned how to utilize his speed and quickness,” said Frank Cominsky, Nixon’s Illinois Wolves coach. “His game has become more rounded now rather than one-dimensional.”
This newfound diversity in Nixon’s skill set is evident on the court. Nixon has the quickness to get by nearly any defender and very often did. At this point, Nixon can mostly work off his quickness alone—it’s assumed that he will have to develop some go-to moves on the perimeter to cross over more skilled defenders.
The ability to blow by his opponents has also given Nixon a chance to work on his vision and passing after penetrating to the paint. As of now, Nixon is much more the shooting guard than the point guard. However, he knows that making himself available to play both positions will ultimately help open up more options for him at the next level.
All that work Nixon has done on his game has resulted in a different rep on the AAU circuit.
“When Prentiss came to the Wolves, he was known as a shooter—now he’s known as a ballplayer,” Cominsky said. “And I think that’s the big difference.”
There have been other, more tangible results as well. Nixon has received interest from many top schools, including Michigan. The list of schools showing significant interest now stands at Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Boston College and UCLA.
Nixon has maintained steady contact with Michigan coaches, specifically Lavall Jordan. Nixon said they talk the usual coach-recruit banter.
“(We talk) about how they play, their style up and down,” Nixon said. “How I fit in with their system and what a great team we’ll have.”
Nixon was at Michigan’s College Practice Camp in June and was impressive. He was able to really show off his shooting touch and played smart. He also showed he was capable of playing both positions, though he still looks more comfortable at the two spot.
Nixon said he plans to take a visit to Michigan in August, along with visits to Iowa and Purdue.