ROCKINGHAM – Nygie Stroman, a sophomore on the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team, has been named the Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week.
In his first season at the varsity level, Stroman has caught fire in the second half of the season and has been an integral part of the Raiders’ and head coach Donald Pettigrew’s current six-game Sandhills Athletic Conference winning streak. This is Stroman’s first career Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week selection.
Athletic Profile
Age: 15
Birthday: June 15, 2003
Year: Sophomore
Winter Sport: Basketball
Position: Power Forward
Years on Varsity: 1 year
Height & Weight: 6-7, 205-pounds
Experience: 11 years
“IN THE PAINT” WITH NYGIE STROMAN
RSHS Academics: Stroman is two and a half weeks into his second semester at Richmond Senior, and has a full course load to balance with his busy basketball schedule. Currently, he’s taking Civics Honors with Teddy Moseley, English II with Tad Hamilton, has third block weight training with Brad Denson and rounds out his day with Health Team Relations with Angela Butler.
An A/B Honor Roll student, Stroman is also enrolled in the college preparatory cluster. His favorite class this semester is Civics Honors, noting “it’s pretty easy to understand” and that Moseley “is relatable and teaches in a way I can understand.”
“I really like going to Richmond,” he added. “It feels like there’s more freedom at school and it’s really up to me to get my work done. I just try and do it when I can so I can focus on basketball.”
RSHS Sports: A two-sport athlete, Stroman is looking to make his sophomore year a success by going out for baseball this spring. While at Hamlet Middle School, he played multiple sports as an eighth grader, but saw his freshman year plagued by a knee injury.
In ninth grade, Stroman made the junior varsity basketball team, but was sidelined for nearly the entire year because of his injury. He added that he “didn’t play until the end of the year,” but even then he wasn’t fully healthy. He also didn’t try out for baseball because of his knee.
“I really started to pick things back up over the summer playing for the Richmond Jammers,” Stroman commented on the travel basketball program. “I’m excited to go out for baseball this spring.
“Now that I’m 100 percent, I’m looking to pitch,” the left-hander added. “Pitching is cool because you can be in control of the entire game.”
High School Aspirations: Set to graduate in 2021, Stroman has several academic and athletic goals he’d like to achieve while at RIchmond.
“I want to continue to get better as an athlete and play harder and get stronger,” Stroman said. “This season, I’m hoping to get All-Conference for basketball, and then do well with the baseball team.
“In school, I want to keep my grades up, and hopefully maintain a GPA above 3.5,” he continued.
With still a couple of years left before he graduates, Stroman explained that his knee injury has sparked a potential career track. He’d like to attend college and play baseball or basketball, adding that “either one is a possibility.”
In terms of course of study, he’s looking at physical training or physical therapy because of his experience with his knee. He explained that when he was hurt, “it seemed like it was a good job because it helps get people back to normal.”
Stroman also noted Richmond’s athletic trainer Mitch Hadinger and his care for him during the rehab process. “I go see Coach Had every day, and he’s shown me how to take care of my body. He’s been very helpful in getting my knee back to normal.”
Nygie Stroman (10) pulls up for two of his 22 points against Jack Britt Friday.
Athlete of the Week Stats: The last time the Raiders lost an SAC game was against Hoke County High School on Jan. 8. Since then, Richmond has beaten three first-place teams and improved from an 0-4 start to 6-4 in the conference, and currently sits alone in third place.
Stroman noted that the first game of that winning streak, which was against then first-place Lumberton High School, was when things began to turn around. He dropped 14 points against the Pirates, which sparked a roll that has lasted up through Richmond’s last three games.
Just over a week ago against Purnell Swett High School, Stroman scored a career-high 27 points, leading the Raiders to a 78-46 win. Four nights later at home against then SAC-leader Pinecrest High School, Stroman scored 14 points as the Raiders steamrolled the Patriots 72-46.
Rounding out the week Friday at Jack Britt High School, Stroman netted a career second-best 22 points, and scored the game-winning layup over Brandon Hayden with 5.7 seconds left in regulation.
Not only is he a presence under the hoop and at the free throw line, Stroman is also a threat from beyond the arc, having scored four triples against the Buccaneers. Over his last three games, Stroman is averaging 21 points per contest.
RAPID FIRE – FAST RESPONSES
1) What’s been the key to your hot stretch lately and the team’s six-game SAC winning streak?
“I’ve just been going hard in practice and weight room,” Stroman shared. “Ever since new semester started, I’ve been working super hard in weight training. It really just came out of nowhere.
“We’re learning how to trust each other and play as a team,” he added of the recent team success. “Coach Pettigrew always tells us to take it one game at a time. We know we’re the best team in the league, we’ve just had to show it.”
2) Using one word, how would you describe your first season on the varsity basketball team?
“Rollercoaster,” he smiled. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t doing so well. But Coach told me to keep my head up and it was going to turn around. I had a good summer and all the sudden I started getting better, starting with the Lumberton game.”
3) Who is someone who has impacted your life positively such as a mentor, teacher or coach?
“Mr. Patrick McLaughlin, who is the Richmond Jammers coach,” Stroman said. “He always has me doing something positive, and helps me keep my head up straight. He’s also taught me so much with basketball. When we went to Florida and played against a lot of tough teams, I was able to bring a lot of that back here.”
4) If you could play professional basketball for any organization, which one would it be and why? Name your starting four teammates.
“I’d probably want to play for the Golden State Warriors,” he explained. “I like the way they share the ball and get everyone involved. I also really like Kevin Durant.
“My starting five would be me, KD, James Harden, LeBron James and Steph Curry.”
5) Name an interesting fact about yourself that many people may not know about you.
“My favorite sport used to be soccer,” Stroman concluded. “Nobody really knows that because I don’t play anymore. I just kept growing and basketball and baseball are much more natural for for me. I also like golf, even though I’m not very good.”
The Raiders will be back in action Tuesday and look to continue their winning streak on the road at Hoke County High School. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.
