One quick glance at the stat sheet, and it might seem like Nick Rosquist is a volume shooter. Or worse, The Gregory School junior could be called a ball hog.
That’s not how the Hawks’ boys basketball coach Michelle Berry sees it.
“You just have to come just watch him play,” Berry said. “The stats aren’t accurate to his intangibles on the court.”
Fans will get a chance to watch the 6-foot combo-guard in action during Monday’s MLK Classic at McKale Center. The seven-game event begins at 11 a.m. and runs into the night.
Rosquist returns to the Hawks (14-3) from a two-game absence due to a dislocated finger. He will showcase his skills against Sells Baboquivari in a clash between two of the top 10 teams in Division V.
“It’ll be different; I’ll have it taped up, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” said Rosquist, who averages 25.4 points per game — the fourth-best mark in the state. “I’ll shoot a lot to get ready.”
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The Star sat down with the prolific scorer to find out more about his breakout season. Here are three things to know about Rosquist heading into the MLK Classic:
‘The best shooter’
As a sophomore last season, Rosquist admits he couldn’t do the things he can now. But over the offseason, he took a look at his game and began to work with a trainer.
“I wasn’t quick, I couldn’t run or jump at all,” Rosquist said. “Now, I feel like my athleticism and weight gain has really helped me.”
Helped might be an understatement.
Two games into the season, Rosquist dropped a career-high and set a new school record with 49 points in a 80-59 win against Kearny Ray. He followed his season-best performance with 47 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 77-71 win against Santa Rita the next day.
Rosquist has shot 58 percent inside the arc, 85 percent from the free-throw line and 40 percent from three-point range. He’s scored at least 16 points in all but one game this season.
“I think he’s the best shooter that I’ve seen in Southern Arizona,” Berry said.
Complete player
Despite the jump in scoring, Rosquist’s biggest strides have been made on defense.
“He’s learned how to be more of verbal player, and he’s played the passing lanes this season beautifully,” Berry said.
“He’s done all those little intellectual things that goes into playing defense.”
Rosquist averages 2.1 steals through 15 games. He’s recored at least one steal in all but one game this season and has four-plus steals on five occasions.
“It’s been really fun to watch his natural talent get cultivated by a lot of hard work and see him emerge as this fantastic player,” Berry said.
Small-school pride
The Hawks are within reach of their third consecutive 20-win season and, more importantly, a 10th-straight postseason berth.
Despite the recent success, Rosquist can hear the outsiders trying to discredit their accomplishments over the years. He’s turned playing for the small school into a motivating factor.
“Nobody is going to expect me to be that good or be able to compete with other guys at bigger schools,” Rosquist said. “That’s what’s making me work harder, to prove other people wrong.”
Berry has noticed the team gravitating toward Rosquist, not just because of his overall play, but because he’s become more of a leader on a young team with one senior.
“It’s critical,” Berry said. “And because he’s also the leader in terms of play, the younger kids will always look up to him.
“They want to emulate his character.”
