Nwauzu (Class of 2024) commits to McCook College

Copyright (C) Ahmedphotos 2023

PRESTON, England – Myerscough forward Daniel Nwauzu announced Saturday his commitment to the Nebraska-based junior college McCook Community College.

“The people I’ve met at Myerscough and the connections I’ve made I’ll have those throughout my life—I’ve made lifelong friends and I’m grateful for that. From a basketball standpoint, the amount of experience I’ve gained from being here, I don’t think I would’ve gotten that from anywhere else in the country,” said Nwauzu following his decision.

The Class of 2024 product fielded interest from NCAA Division II schools and fellow junior college programmes like Laramie County CC and Miami Dade Community College but he committed to McCook due to their relentless pursuit. Nwauzu said, “McCook and Coach (Jacob) Brandl made me feel wanted throughout the whole year, they made me an offer after the first few conversations, and I am big believer that I’ll go where I’m wanted.”

Nwauzu spent the last three seasons of his junior career at Myerscough, where he emerged this year as a top junior prospect on the back of extended minutes in the starting line-up in the NBL Division 2 Men, European Youth Basketball League and Elite Academy Basketball League teams.

The 6-foot-6 forward and Derby native was named to the All-EABL North Conference First Team following a campaign where he led the league in rebounding with 12.5 per game and ranked in the top five in scoring (20.2 points per game) and efficiency.

Nwauzu, meanwhile, led the team in scoring and rebounding in the EYBL with 18.3 points and 10.6 boards per game in nearly 27 minutes of action. He posted five 20-point games, including a team-record in the competition of 36 points against CREW Basketball during Stage II in Lanzarote, Spain on Jan. 26, and had five double-doubles.

The 19-year-old ranked second in rebounding in Division 2 with 13.5 rebounds whilst averaging 16.6 points in 30 minutes of action in 20 games. He shot 41.9 percent from the field and had 15 double-doubles, including season-highs of 34 points against Bristol Flyers II on Jan. 13 and matched his high of 19 rebounds four times.

“Towards the end of last year, I got cut from the Great Britain junior team really early on and that impacted me, so I came into this year thinking, ‘I’m not going to be second best and I’m going to work to be the best version of me’, because I didn’t want to feel like that again,” said Nwauzu of the elevation in his game from year two to three. “That all motivated me.”

McCook finished the 2023-24 season with an 11-21 record overall and a 5-8 mark in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference in Region IX. The team featured a trio of former Myerscough Academy graduates, including Zeki Cavli, Bryan Akanmu and Ridley Shema.

“Those are the guys I looked up to when they were at Myerscough,” said Nwauzu. “Bryan would help me with the little things like positioning and he would also sit next to me on the bench and talk me through different parts of the game.

“Seeing those guys and how they have progressed from Myerscough to now getting interest from Division I and II schools is inspiring because I want to follow in their footsteps.”

The Indians are coached by Jacob Brandl, who will be entering his fifth year with the program this coming year. Brandl has a 47-72 record in four seasons. He previously spent eight years at Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota, serving as the programme’s associate head coach in 2019-20.

Nwauzu joins Tyrese Lacey as the two current Myerscough players to commit to junior college programmes in the United States for the 2024-25 season.

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