It was a play Nacho Nwana and the Brunswick School record books will never forget.
With 3:20 left in the first half of Friday’s game against St. Luke’s Academy, the senior captain scored his 1000th career point on a play that accurately represents what he was brought to the Brunswick team over the past three years — hustle.
After a scramble for a loose ball underneath the basket, Nwana caught a short pass from his teammate, brushed off some mid-air contact and guided the ball off the backboard for his 1000th and 1001st career points.
“It’s not fun when we lose,” the competitive Nwana said. “But I’ve worked hard for three years and it means a lot.”
Heading into Friday’s game, Nwana was just seven points shy from reaching the 1,000-point mark with his family and friends in attendance for the anticipated milestone.
“It means a lot,” Nwana’s mother said following the game. “He’s worked very hard on his basketball career and we’re pleased to see him do well today, even though they lost. These things happen sometimes and we know he’s worked very hard.”
The 6-foot-2 guard has committed to play at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has excelled on and off the court this year.
“He’s worked extremely hard all school year and he’s very strong in academics as well as basketball. We’re very grateful and excited for him.”
Brunswick head coach Robert Taylor says that the looming milestone wasn’t a distraction from his team prior to the game, but added that it was a feat that his team as a whole was looking forward to.
“To me, it’s a great symbol of how hard he’s worked throughout his career at Brunswick,” Taylor said. “It’s not just on the basketball court, but off the court as well. He’s an amazing student and socially, he’s done some amazing things in community service.”
Nwana finished with 21 points and his record-breaking accomplishment serves as a silver lining as the Bruins fell to St. Luke’s School 87-51 at home Friday night.
“He joins a short list of people. Whenever you have one of those kinds of players, you have to appreciate that. The way he plays is kind of unstoppable. He drew two or three guys on him and he still finds a way to get shots up. He’s a tremendous leader. Verbally and non-verbally, he knows how to keep his team motivated.”
Brunswick sits at 4-10 and takes on Rye Country Day School on Monday at home.
