booker commits to davidson

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Nick Booker Verbals To
Davidson College, NC--(Oct. 8, 1999)

booker.jpg (2862 bytes) We just got an e-mail from Barbara Booker, the mother of Nick Booker (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) from The Bishop's School in La Jolla, informing us that Nick gave a verbal commitment to Davidson College, North Carolina late yesterday afternoon. He will sign a letter of intent in November.

The way Nick approached his decision is instructive, and would be a prime example of picking a team and a school for all the right reasons, i.e., academics and college atmosphere, good relationships with the coaches, and not worrying about playing at a "prestige" or "big-name" school. For those who don't know, Davidson is among the smallest, if not the smallest of the Division I schools, but it's an academically elite school, and they also play some really big-time college programs, some of the best.

Barbara's e-mail to us details the process that the family went through in Nick's and the family's decision-making process. Here's what she said:

Just to ley you know Nick verballed to Davidson College, North Carolina late yesterday afternoon. Our whole family went for a visit last weekend and he really liked everything about the school, Coach McKillop and the team. [Wayne Bernard who played against Nick at Horizon and with him on Future Stars traveling team, was his host for the weekend.] It's an academically challenging school and at the same time very supportive. Average class size is 12:1 students: professors. The campus is beautiful in a small college town but just 20 minutes from Charlotte. They have graduated 35 of 36 basketball players since Coach McKillop has been head coach. It's the smallest Division I school but they have a great non conference schedule playing Duke, Syracuse, Wake Forest among many others.

He had narrowed his choices to Davidson, Pepperdine, Wyoming, Denver and Richmond. It was a difficult decision as he had developed a good relationship with several of the coaches. Someone else committed to Richmond at his position, so he lost that as an option. Right after Davidson's home visit he was very excited about playing for Coach McKillop. When he visited Davidson he liked it so much he didn't want to take a chance on having someone else commit while he was taking his other recruiting trips. After visiting the school he had a strong feeling that he would fit into their program and be able to fulfill his academic goals. The school is similar to his high school - tough but very supportive. When we arrived back home from the visit, Nick discussed the decision with his Father and I, Coach Fentris Winn and some other people who have been a source of good advise in the past. Thursday afternoon he made the decision to not take his other recruiting trips and commit. He will sign the letter of intent in November.

This is a very good get for Davidson, and we're only sorry that we won't be seeing much of Nick on the West Coast and in SoCal for the next four years, but want to wish him lots of success.