There’s no place like home court.
The UNBC Women’s basketball team has added a familiar name to fans of basketball in Prince George.
It has been made official with the announcement that Jessica Nycholat has committed to the Timberwolves for the 2019-2020 Canada West season.
Nycholat, who graduated from College Heights just last year, has been attending UNBC this academic year. A three-time Prince George City All-Star, she reached out to Timberwolves coach Sergey Shchepotkin in hopes of trying out for the team.
“I really missed basketball. I would see them practicing, and I really regretted not playing,” said Nycholat. “I emailed Sergey and he invited me to practice. After my first practice, it was obvious. They are all so nice and I really loved playing with them.”
A member of the U15 and U16 Provincial teams, the 19-year-old has been able to train with the Timberwolves this spring. Nycholat says her getting back into the sport has been aided by her new teammates.
“I come to all the games I can to watch them, and they have some very good players on this team. They have been so welcoming and so nice to me. They’re very supportive and help me a lot whenever I have questions. I feel like I have made friends with a lot of them.”
Standing five-foot-nine, Nycholat averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game in her Grade 12 season with the Cougars, however, she understands there will be adjustments to make with her transition to the highest level of university sport in Canada.
She is currently studying marketing and finance, with aspirations of becoming a human rights lawyer. She will join the team in August for training camp.
