TRAVERSE CITY – American University basketball player Wyatt Nausadis is preparing for his junior season after spending his summer balancing an internship, offseason lifting and basketball training. Despite entering his third year of college, Nausadis retains three seasons of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA five-and-five policy.
During his freshman season, Nausadis averaged 12 minutes of play on a team that won a conference championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Last season, the American University Eagles finished with a 16-16 record.
“I think there were ups and downs, as there always will be. Like, I started the first half of the season last year. I came off the bench, kind of played like a sixth-seventh man role. I was happy with both. I think my thing is like, I just want to win. And if we can see if we can see that as a result of wherever I play, then I’m happy. I’m not sure what my role will be this season, but I’ll have a big one, and I’ll get to be on the court with some of my best friends and hopefully win some more games,” Nausadis said.
Nausadis also commented on the ever-changing collegiate athletics landscape: “Yeah, it’s crazy. Agents are calling every day. I’m not signed with anyone. But just to give a perspective of what it’s like, I’ve. I’ve had probably ten agents call me in the last two weeks trying to say, what’s your plan like? Obviously I can’t go in the portal now, but trying to sign you, they want to put you in the portal or all that. But anyways, I think it shocks me every year that it is where it’s at and I kind of feel a little bit for the high school guys. I was in their shoes and who knows what it’s going to be next year I think the big thing is just go year by year. This year I’m focused on being at American University, winning here,” Nausadis said.
Before playing basketball at American University, Nausadis attended Saint Francis, where he won two state football championships. He credited his high school football background with shaping his athletic mindset and work ethic.
“In my recruitment process, coaches always asked me what I look for, and I kind of went back to my Francis football culture and those habits that I built there. And I kind of thought, like, I want a locker room that feels like that, a culture that feels like that. So, yeah, I think football and that toughness that you learn from it, that grind. I think that’s something that I try to take over to basketball every time I step on the court,” Nausadis said.
Following a brief stay in Traverse City, Nausadis will return to American University to resume team basketball workouts.