Reed Nikko has had a big summer, and received a scholarship offer from the home town Gophers this weekend.
Reed Nikko, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound rising senior center from Maple Grove (MN) High, is considered one of the state’s top players from the Class of 2016. Nikko recently picked up an offer from Minnesota this past weekend.
Nikko helped lead Maple Grove to a 23-4 record as a junior, losing 77-62 to Wayzata in the second round of the Section 5AAAA playoffs. Nikko averaged 9.4 points per game with a season-best 19 points against Apple Valley. He scored in double figures in 15 of 27 games.
Nikko helped pace Maple Grove to a 19-9 mark as a sophomore, losing 55-43 to Osseo in the second round of the Section 5AAAA playoffs. Nikko averaged 9.8 points per game with a season-best 23 points against Robbinsdale Cooper in the first round of the playoffs. He scored in double figures in 12 of 28 games.
Gopher Hole caught up with Nikko Monday afternoon to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You picked up an offer from Minnesota this past weekend. How did you find out about the offer and what was your reaction?
Reed Nikko: In between flights, coming back from Charlotte, I saw that I had a missed call and a text from Coach Pitino saying that they would like to offer me and I called him back. I would say that I was very excited and they had been recruiting me for a while and it was really nice to get a hometown offer.
Gopher Hole: Did you have a feeling that something might be coming from the Gophers?
Reed Nikko: No, to be honest. They had been recruiting me for a while and nothing happened, so I was thinking that it wasn’t coming, so it was a little bit surprising.
Gopher Hole: It sounds like you have been playing really good this summer. You had a good junior year, but it seems like you a picking up more interest based on what you are doing in the spring and summer. What has changed with your game or has anything really changed to make people notice you more?
Reed Nikko: I think the biggest thing is that I am playing with a lot more confidence than I have in the past. When I get the ball, I have been attacking a lot more and I am lot more confident with my moves. I have put on a lot more muscle and it has made it easier and that has made it easier in the post and inside.
Gopher Hole: You were at an All-Star camp where you were playing against really good players, which makes it even more impressive that you were one of the top big men rather than just going against average players?
Reed Nikko: Yes. I came into the camp just thinking that I was going to work as hard as I could, knowing that I was going to be one of the most athletic guys that they would have there and just tried to work as hard as I could in front of the coaches.
Gopher Hole: I don’t know if you still keep track, but how many offers are you up to right now?
Reed Nikko: Nine. (South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Dakota, Fairfield, Minnesota, Missouri, Bradley, Miami of Ohio, San Diego and Grand Canyon are listed as offering Nikko)
Gopher Hole: You were obviously getting a lot of good mid major looks, but recently you picked up an offer from Missouri and now Minnesota. What do you think that you have to continue to do to hear from some more of the high major schools?
Reed Nikko: I would say, probably just need to keep playing with that confidence. Just being aggressive. I would say that I probably need to keep rebounding at a higher level than I am and just keep trying to be a leader on the court.
Gopher Hole: You were also at the Gopher team camp and played well there. Is that where along with the All-Star camp performance that you picked up more interest from Minnesota?
Reed Nikko: Yes. I think that was a big tipping point. I played some of the best basketball that I have played in a very long time at the camp. I had multiple games where I was fairly dominant offensively. That is a big thing for me, being known mostly as a defensive player. I think that is huge for me.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, the Gophers have been looking at you, but was that your opportunity to show them that you are a very good player. Did you play even a little bit harder than normal at the Gopher team camp to say “Hey, I’m a pretty good player and you should maybe notice me a little bit more?”
Reed Nikko: Yes. I definitely went to that camp with sort of a chip on my shoulder, with something to prove.
Gopher Hole: What about the rest of the summer? Where are you guys going the next two weeks?
Reed Nikko: Next week, we are in Atlanta and after that, we are in Kansas City.
Gopher Hole: How has the spring and summer been going for Net Gain?
Reed Nikko: I think it is going really well. Overall, I think that, so far, a fairly successful season. I think that we just need to continue what we are doing and play as a team and keeping moving the ball around and shooting the ball, that we will be fine for the rest of the year.
Gopher Hole: You got a chance to play with the Maple Grove team at the Gopher team camp and are playing in the Boys’ Bracket Buster State Tourney July 30 in Maple Grove against some of the top teams in the state. You have had good years the past two seasons, but have been in a tough section where Park Center and Champlin Park were the top seeds in the state tournaments and finished runners-up the last two years. You are going to be a senior and some of your other top players like Brad Davison, Jack Hutchison and Tywhon Pickford will be juniors. This is a big year for Maple Grove. What are the expectations for the Crimson this upcoming year?
Reed Nikko: Our expectation is to definitely make state and compete for a state title. We feel that we have been working at this for many years now and it is our time and we are ready for it.
Gopher Hole: You have come close the past couple of year. Is that a motivating factor having gotten close in the past?
Reed Nikko: Yes. It is definitely a motivation. I have said this every time. We have gotten close. We have lost to teams that are really stacked and have usually gone on to play for state. We feel that it is definitely our turn and now that we are in a different section, obviously, it is still going to be a tough section. Pretty much everyone in 4A is a good team. We think that we have a good opportunity and a good chance to go to state and hopefully contend for a title.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you would try to decide on a school? Have you even thought that far yet?
Reed Nikko: No. The only thing I think about right now is trying to play the best basketball I possibly can.
Gopher Hole: Does the Gopher offer speed thing up? Would you maybe commit sooner because of the hometown offer or does that have much impact on your decision?
Reed Nikko: I haven’t really thought much about any time table for recruitment or speeding anything up or anything like that. I am going to wait until the end of July or whenever I feel that I am going to be finished getting the offer that I will get and I’ll go on official visits from there, but right now, I am just focused on playing the best basketball possible.
Gopher Hole: Do you know what school you would definitely like to take an official visit to?
Reed Nikko: No, I haven’t figured that out yet.
Gopher Hole: What things have you really been focused on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Reed Nikko: Really, just getting stronger and hit the weight room. Getting bigger and stronger, so I don’t get pushed around inside playing on the big circuit. I definitely want to be a more confident player and try to be meaner on the court.
Gopher Hole: You grown a few inches and gotten a little bit bigger weight-wise. Has that also given you more confidence?
Reed Nikko: Yes, for sure.
Gopher Hole: I know that you lost your dad a few years ago and he was a basketball player and played college basketball (one year at Bemidji). Is that where you got the love of the game?
Reed Nikko: Yes, definitely. He instilled in me at a very young age and that was something that we did together. He coached me growing up. Everything that I have done on the court the last couple of years has all been for him. Every time that I go out there, I want to make him proud.
Gopher Hole: What do you like about Minnesota, the hometown school?
Reed Nikko: I like a lot of things. It is close to home. High major. Good academics. It was my mom’s alma mater, so there is a lot to like about the school.
Gopher Hole: Your other high major offer is from Missouri. How did they find out about you?
Reed Nikko: I think that they saw me play in Louisville on the circuit. I had a pretty good session there and they found me after that and offered me and thought that I could be an impact for them.