Nygren’s Game-Winning Free Throws Earn County Athlete of the Week Honors

La Grange basketball player Reece Nygren stands at 6’4” and has been a key contributor all season long down low. Not only does Nygren produce on the block, he also performs in the clutch as he nailed two crucial free throws in the final seconds against Caldwell last week to seal a 52-51 victory.

“He really is one of our best free throw shooters,” said La Grange head boy’s basketball coach Trent Collier. “In practice, we’ll put him on the line and he’ll hit 9, 10, 12 in a row. When he went to the line I’m thinking to myself, this is probably the guy we want, but what’s gonna happen here? He was clutch. You can see it in his eyes. He wasn’t gonna let us lose. That’s the value of senior leadership.” Nygren’s nerves of steel has made him our choice for this edition’s Athlete of the Week.

Question: You stand at 6’4”, what do you like the most about being tall?

Answer: “I can reach things on the top shelf. That’s kind of the main thing. I can see over everyone. That’s the best. I can go in through traffic, I can just see right over the top of everyone, so it’s pretty nice.”

Question: What would you say is an essential part about being a center?

Answer: “Being physical is the main one. Everyone wants a physical center. Then being able to finish at the rim. You get down there, you got to make them. You can’t just get down there, you got to finish it off. Finishing through contact, making layups.”

Question: Which do you like better, rebounding or blocking shots?

Answer: “Probably blocked shots because they’re highlight reel type stuff. Blocked shots are the move.”

Question: What was your best memory of Christmas vacation?

Answer: “Probably at the Luling tournament. It was my birthday and we won the tournament, so that was probably the best. We went to the movies, ate lunch together. That was pretty fun, so that was a pretty good birthday to get the win in the championship game. That was probably my favorite.”

Question: Who’s an NBA center you look up to and why?

Answer: “Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets is my favorite one. I watch the Rockets all the time. He’s one of my favorite players. He’s crafty, he can finish at the rim, do all sorts of different things.”

Question: What are some things you like about Coach Collier?

Answer: “The intensity that he brings and the enthusiasm. He’s hyped up no matter what. We could be playing some small school, it doesn’t matter. He’s ready. We call him the stomper. He’s bringing the fire with us, so it’s

See great.”

Question: Who’s a musician you usually listen to?

Answer: “I listen to a lot of George Strait. I found myself listening to a lot of country lately, so George Strait’s kind of been my guy.”

Question: Nike or Adidas?

Answer: “I’ll probably go Adidas. I got the Adidas slides on right now, so I’ll probably go with Adidas.”

Question: What’s something you’d like to work on with your basketball game this year?

Answer: “Over the summer, I kind of worked on my shot a little more. Being able to bring myself out of the paint. Post moves. I like being crafty in the post. Those are pretty cool.”

Question: What would you say is the best restaurant in La Grange and why?

Answer: “I like Weikel’s. Their sandwiches are pretty good. Reba’s isn’t bad if you’re looking for a good pizza. Either one of the two. I go there Monday’s with my mom for lunch, so they’re both pretty good restaurants.”

Having a good center in basketball makes things a lot easier for a team in general and Nygren has fit the bill for La Grange in that category.