Nelson a team player
There’s no “I” in “Spencer Nelson.”
Spencer Nelson has given Utah State many great basketball moments in his college career.
During his final regular season game in the Spectrum, he scored 20 points, had 10 rebounds, three steels and a block, aiding in a win for the Aggies.
The win secured the Ags the second seed in the Big West Conference.
The fans cheered for Nelson when he escorted his parents onto the floor for Utah State’s Senior Night. But Spencer doesn’t dwell on that. For him, his greatest basketball moments are when the team is successful. He said it’s about perspective.
“All individual awards are a product of a team,” Nelson said. “I didn’t really get the award myself.
“If you think you did it on your own you’re way off and I think that’s when you start losing perspective.”
Nelson’s humility, hard work and sense of humor, made him a favorite among the press, his peers, and the players. His dunks, drives, and passes made him a favorite with the fans.
Nelson is one of two players in Utah State history to score 1,000 points and record 700 rebounds and 250 assists. He is also one of 16 players named to the USU’s All-Century team.
Being named to the All-Century team was a great honor, Nelson said.
“I think when a first heard about it I thought that’s cool,” he said. “After the night when all the players where there and I got to shake hands and meet them and talk with them, it became a little more real to me.
“It was a special experience and I was glad to have it.”
Nelson’s basketball career started when he was a kid growing up on 18th Street in Pocatello, Idaho. He said the street had tons of kids and families and they would play.
Nelson said he also remembers playing with his older brother, JT Nelson, who is currently attending Idaho State.
Then in 1999, Nelson picked Utah State from a list of schools trying to recruit him. That was when he started making history for the Aggies, an experience, he said, both he and his family are very grateful for.
“It [choosing Utah State] just felt right,” Nelson said. “I would want people to know how grateful I am for the experience.”
Even with all of Nelson’s high-flying moments in Logan, his still hold close ties to his hometown.
“There are so many people in Pocatello that have done so much for me, that have helped me become the person that I am,” Nelson said. “It’s always like I have a responsibility to represent where I came from.”
The Big West Tournament starts this weekend in Anaheim, Calif., with Nelson holding high hopes for USU.
“I think we have as good a shot as anybody,” Nelson said. “This is our chance to go to the NCAA Tournament. We got to make the most of it. Winning is the goal – win Friday get into Saturday.”
Basketball has been a huge part of Nelson’s life in his last years playing for USU. Now that he is approaching the finish he is not sure if he is ready to give it up.
“Who wouldn’t want to continue playing basketball?” Nelson said. “Once the season is over I need to sit down with people that I trust and that are knowledgeable about professional basketball and weigh my options.
“When the time comes to make a decision I’ll just go with what feels right for me, what’s the best fit.”
-mikayliek@cc.usu.edu
Utah State´s Spencer Nelson hugs teammate Nate Harris at the end of Friday´s game against Idaho. Nelson scored 20 points during the game. (Photo by Jessica Alexander)