As the Nicholson family sits together watching Brooke Nicholson’s JV girls basketball game, it doubles as a meeting of four generations of Ash Grove record holders. “To be honest, Brady and I don’t talk about it very much,” said Jeremy Nicholson, who graduated in the class of 2003 and currently holds the Ash Grove career points record.
Jeremy is part of three generations of Ash Grove basketball players who went on to play for the Missouri State Bears following Grandpa Brian and great-grandpa Larry. “When I was raised playing basketball here we never talked about records,” Jeremy said. “We just talked about getting better every day and winning. It really starts with my dad and my grandpa just instilling a good work ethic.”
Jeremy’s son Brady, who is committed to play at Drury next year, is poised to break that career scoring record this year. And there are no plans to talk about it then either.
“I think we’re just going to let it happen,” said Brady, a senior on the team. “I think when it does happen I’m just going to let it happen. It’ll kind of settle in. Kind of like last year when I broke my uncle’s record.”
His uncle Shane Nicholson had the single-season scoring record before Brady broke that last season. Shane is still Evangel’s all-time assist leader. More than 200 assists separate him from the second player on that list. “My dad was more athletic than I am, I think,” Brady said, “Shane could really shoot it. I’ve been told I’m a bit of both.”
Recently the school installed a list of all the record holders above the school concession stand. It’s perhaps signaling that it’s time to talk more about the contributions of Brady and the rest of the Nicholson family to Pirate sports. “I probably need to talk to him about it more and tell him he’s doing a great job,” Jeremy said.
It’s certainly a great job four generations in the making.
