Next step in Wigton's basketball career is Malone
Hiland standout basketball talent Nick Wigton, second from left, is joined by his family, including brother Blake, father Dan and mother Carrie, as he signs his letter of intent to play at Malone University next season.
Nick Wigton enjoyed a fantastic basketball career at Hiland High School.
Now he will seek to find that same passion and joy at the college level.
On Thursday, April 17, Wigton signed his letter of intent to play at Malone University, as family, teammates and friends provided support.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done this for a boys basketball player,” Schlabach said. “There’s never been a tougher time to get signed as a high school basketball player. With the transfer portal, it’s very tough.”
Schlabach said his All-Ohioan has two main things going for him, the first being super-skilled at some component of the game.
“You have to do something on the court extremely well, and obviously, Nick does that,” Schlabach said. “He’s worked extremely hard on his game, and his shooting ability comes from a lot of hard work.”
Schlabach said the other thing college coaches are seeking are student-athletes who they know for sure are top-notch individuals who will represent their team well both on and off the court.
This past season Wigton became a second-team All-Ohioan, proving himself to be a prolific scorer and shooter while improving all other aspects of his game.
Schlabach said Wigton’s work ethic is what made all of this possible.
“There’s high Division I-level basketball where they don’t shoot the basketball as well as Nick does,” Schlabach said. “That’s what stood out to college coaches when they came to watch him play.”
He said with Wigton’s length, it can only benefit him as he takes his game to the college ranks, and it will allow him to guard multiple positions.
“We’re proud of him, and it’s good for our program to have somebody going on to play,” Schlabach said.
Wigton said he chose Malone because of the high level of play the program has made a commitment to, and the style is similar to Hiland.
“Everything felt right,” Wigton said of Malone.
He said he felt like he developed his all-around game more during his senior year and hopes to continue that trend as he moves to Malone.
He also said he enjoys the challenges of improving his game, and he isn’t afraid to work hard to improve, adding playing in a program that pushes its players as hard as the Hiland program has prepared him for the rigors of college ball.
“Being at Hiland helped me achieve my full potential, and I think now going to college that I can take that with me and keep evolving my game,” Wigton said.
Wigton has played in plenty of big games at Hiland and felt like learning how to play the game the right way and learning how to win was a big plus during his recruitment period.
Getting to play at MU also was something that excited Wigton, knowing his family, friends and others can take a quick trip up north to see him play.
“My parents can come watch me play, so they are excited,” Wigton said. “It’ll be nice to get away from home but be close enough to come home and have them come up.”
While he doesn’t yet have a major picked out, he said he will perhaps focus on law or political science while balancing the challenge of playing basketball.