Connor Niego is about so as to add to the Niego legacy at Lewis.
Niego, the previous prep star at Lyons, is headed to the Division II college in Romeoville on the semester as a switch following three years at Holy Cross.
Final season he performed half-hour a recreation and averaged 8.8 factors and 5.1 rebounds.
Lewis coach Scott Trost touchdown a 6-8 ahead from the Division I ranks is a big plus and large story for this system. However the greater storyline is one other Niego enjoying at Lewis.
The Niego household grew to become a nationwide story within the mid-Eighties when 4 Niego brothers –– Connor’s dad, Joe, and uncles Charlie, Tom and Mark–– all began collectively at Lewis. All 4 brothers scored 1,000-plus factors of their Lewis profession.
The Niego brothers have been featured in a Sports activities Illustrated story in 1986. USA At the moment and NBC Nationwide Information each highlighted the brothers who as soon as scored each level in a Lewis recreation and helped lead this system to a 14-0 begin in 1985-86 en path to a 25-5 season.
Over the course of creating a call, Connor Niego mentioned the “Lewis storyline” surfaced an increasing number of in discussions. He heard the tales of “how superior these days have been at Lewis” and the way it was an expertise his dad and uncles will always remember.
“There have been a variety of issues that attracted me to Lewis,” mentioned Connor Niego, whose mom additionally performed at Lewis. “The legacy of the household at Lewis was actually one in all them. It’s a little bit of a household custom.”
Connor Niego doesn’t dismiss the very fact the present pandemic performed a task in his resolution. After speaking with a number of Division I packages, Niego felt a pull towards coming again dwelling after spending three years at Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
“Clearly these are some loopy instances proper now with the pandemic,” mentioned Niego. “So it’s going to be good to be near dwelling, to be near my mother and pop, brothers and my giant prolonged household. That’s an actual plus.”
He additionally has a robust connection to the Lewis teaching workers, together with assistant coach Nick Rocco. Connor Niego performed for Rocco when he performed for Chicago Lockdown, a membership basketball circuit program his dad, Joe, started in 2011.
“I’ve identified coach Trost for awhile and Roc coached me after I performed with Lockdown, in order that’s like one other family-like connection,” mentioned Niego.
Connor Niego additionally is aware of the excessive stage of a basketball that’s performed in Division II. He watched his brother, Harrison Niego, play Division II basketball at Hillsdale in Michigan. He’s additionally attended his share of Lewis video games prior to now.
“I’m very accustomed to Division II basketball and the expertise stage that’s performed there,” mentioned Niego. “It’s an excellent convention (Nice Lakes Valley Convention) with high-level basketball. I understand how good it’s, and I do know the expertise at Lewis and the success they’ve had.”
Successful is vital for Niego going ahead, particularly after experiencing a 3-29 season a 12 months in the past at Holy Cross. He is aware of Lewis has gained its share of video games, reaching the Division II NCAA Match two years in the past when the Flyers gained 25 video games.
“Throughout this course of I actually emphasised that I wish to win,” mentioned Niego, who could have two years of eligibility. “Shedding isn’t enjoyable at any stage. I wish to win. Successful three video games in a season is hard, it’s powerful on everybody. My expectation is to win video games. I’m fired up, able to go and actually enthusiastic about my future at Lewis.”
