Nahshon George should have immediate role for men’s basketball
For all the things Hawaii is known for, high-level high school basketball is probably not among them.
Despite that, Nahshon George, a 6-foot-9-inch native of Kapolei, Hawaii, has found his way to Moscow to play basketball for Idaho.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Junior forward Nahshon George practices Wednesday in the PEB gym. George led the team in rebounds with 13 in Idaho’s 139-115 victory over Simon Fraser Friday in Memorial Gym.
Before signing with the Vandals, he spent two seasons playing at Shoreline Community College north of Seattle. George had to adapt to a new climate and new time zone after leaving Hawaii, and said he will have to adapt again to the cold Moscow winters.
“Coming from Hawaii it was a transition,” Nahshon George said. “I originally went to Seattle out of high school … But moving here I heard it gets a lot colder, into the negatives so right now I am transitioning. I have a lot of coats and cold gear so I think I am prepared pretty well.”
George said he also had to adapt to the basketball style in Seattle. In Hawaii, basketball isn’t nearly as organized nor is the talent level nearly the same, George said. Playing in Seattle helped his game improve, he said.
Idaho coach Don Verlin already heavily recruits in the Northwest with 10 players from Oregon, Washington or Idaho. Verlin said he was fortunate that George was in the area and he was able to recruit him.
But location wasn’t the only reason Verlin wanted George in silver and gold.
“Nahshon has got very good hands, he’s very athletic and has a knack for rebounding the ball and I thought losing Stephen Madison we needed somebody to come in and rebound the basketball,” Verlin said. “He really did a nice job of that in the first game with 13 rebounds in 10 minutes.”
Although George enjoyed the fast-paced Seattle life, he is adapting to small-town Moscow just fine.
“It is slower here. I can really focus on my school work and basketball,” George said. “It really helps me just sit down and focus on the task at hand, which is getting my degree and excelling as far as I can in basketball.”
Verlin said he has challenged George to step up and lead the team in rebounding in his first season as well as become one of the best defenders on the team, which his athleticism and mobility could allow him to do.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Junior forward Nahshon George practices wednesday in the PEB gym. George led the team in rebounds with 13 in Idaho’s 139-115 victory over Simon Fraser Friday.
The persistence of the Vandals during the entire recruiting process made them seem more appealing, George said. He told them he was interested in making a visit on a Wednesday and by that Friday he was on a plane to Moscow.
“That showed me that they really wanted me,” he said. “They brought me out here in no time, that really was a big factor in my decision.”
His initial transition was made a little tougher as he battled the mumps virus earlier in the season, which was the sole reason he didn’t see more playing time in the Vandals’ first exhibition game of the season on Friday, Verlin said.
The mumps virus also haltered George’s ability to soak up the scheme when sidelined.
“That really threw me off,” George said. “Coming from Shoreline we ran an up-pace system. We really didn’t have set plays and here we have a lot of plays and defensive schemes that you really have to know one the fly and me being out really put me at a disadvantage.”
Verlin has been impressed with George’s ability both as a rebounder and a defender. He should be able to carve out a role for himself in the rotation, he said.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]