LONDON — North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan recognizes talent when he sees it, and he knew from the very first time he watched Lady Jaguar senior Brooke Nichelson play in an elementary school game that she was destined to be a standout athlete.
“My wife still loves recalling the time I first saw Brooke play for her elementary school team,” he said. “I came home raving about this young girl’s incredible potential. Even back then, her athleticism stood out.”
Nichelson continued to improve as a basketball player throughout her career, and has now established herself as one of the best players in the state after securing two 13th Region Player of the Year awards this past week while capturing her second 13th Region Tournament MVP award on Saturday after guiding the Lady Jaguars to their third consecutive 13th Region crown.
“It’s been an absolute joy to witness her growth from that eager youngster to the dominant force she is today,” Mahan said. “The past few years have been a thrilling ride, and I feel fortunate to have been able to watch her evolve into the exceptional player she’s become.
“Watching Brooke evolve into one of the state’s top players has been truly remarkable,” he added. “Interestingly, her biggest hurdle wasn’t refining her skills, but rather recognizing her own potential. At times, she seemed unaware of her capabilities on the court. As her confidence grew, so did her exceptional performance, unlocking the full greatness of her game.”
Nichelson showed what she could do during Monday’s 13th Region Tournament championship against South Laurel.
She scored the Lady Jaguars’ first 12 points while totaling 81 points and 23 rebounds during North Laurel’s three games, which included her 29-point, seven-rebound effort in the title game.
“Brooke Nichelson is an incredibly versatile player, and I genuinely believe there’s nothing she can’t accomplish on the basketball court,” Mahan said. “Her biggest challenge might be trusting her own abilities, but once she taps into that self-confidence, she’ll be nearly unstoppable. The best thing about Brooke and her value to the team is she is like a Swiss Army knife, and can really help in just about any situation. Her scoring, rebounding or defense can change a game.
“Despite her dominant performance, Brooke might say she still didn’t play to her full potential,” he added. “And I think she’s right — we’re only just beginning to see the incredible talent she possesses. I’m excited to see her continue to grow and improve as she takes her skills to the next level.
“With so many great girls basketball players to come out of Laurel County, I will leave it up to someone else to decide her place with the Laurel County greats,” Mahan added. “However, I know in my 26 years of coaching high school and college I have never coached a better athlete.”
