FORMER STONEY CREEK STAR NELSON HAS CHANCE AT FINAL FOURTH BERTH TO CONCLUDE SOLID CAREER

 

Stoney Creek High School doesn't have a rich prep hoops tradition because of the fact that it's only had a varsity basketball team for less than a decade. The crown jewel of the Cougars limited hoop heritage is Ryan Nelson, arguably the best boys player to ever suit up for the Stoney Creek cage program.

Nelson is doing the county mad proud out in the land of the Georgia Peaches down south at Valdosta State, finishing off his college playing career this month as a senior guard for the blistering-hot Blazers in the DII NCAA Tourney, aka "The Little Dance."

Currently ranked number four in the nation, Valdosta State (27-4) will face off with number two-ranked Indiana (PA) in the Elite Eight in Springfield, Massachusetts on Wednesday night. To say Nelson, a two year captain, has been a major reason why the Blazers won their conference title and have accumulated the second most wins in school history this season would be a vast understatement. In the tournament's Round of 32, Nelson scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked four shots in V-State's 72-60 defeat of number one in the nation and pre-tourney favorite, Arkansas Tech. Last weekend in the Sweet Sixteen, he scored eight points and handed out six assists in a victory over Rollins. This kid is the glue that keeps the Blazers together and well.....blazing!

A 2006 grad of Stoney Creek, where he was four year varsity performer and a two-time OAA Blue Division MVP, Nelson started his college playing days at D3 Kennesaw State and then spent time at the University of Arkansas-Monticello before finally finding a home with the Blazernation down in Georgia. As a senior prepster with the Cougars, he averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds per game, while leaving the school as its all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and assist man.

Ryan would have been proud of his Cougars this season, as the squad put together a more than respectable 17-4 season before bowing to a streaking-Lake Orion squad in upset fashion in the first round of the MHSAA state tournament.

Here's to hoping that my main Cougasr...er....Blazer homeboy Ryan, brings home that national title for V-State, and comes by the Oakpress offices on his summer break to show off his new "bling bling" championship ring.