NEW YORK — A word of wise to other college basketball teams and their fans: Nigel James Jr. will not be leaving.
Having seen social media warriors clamoring about his future and opposing fan accounts crafting edits of him in different jerseys, the Marquette men’s basketball first-year point guard took time on Wednesday to set the record straight.
He is and will continue to be a Golden Eagle.
“I never had a thought of going anywhere else. I want to finish my career at Marquette,” he said minutes after becoming the third player in Marquette history win Big East freshman of the year.
“That was never a question for me.”
James Jr. averaged 19.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game in conference play, and had the highest scoring average in league play by a rookie since Carmelo Anthony in 2002-03.
It was a production level so historic Marquette fans repeatedly referenced giving him a blank NIL check, while rival fans hoped their programs would lure him away by doing the same. But, James Jr. has a special relationship with head coach Shaka Smart and the rest of his teammates, namely roommate Adrien Stevens.
“You guys never switched up on me,” he said during his acceptance speech, “that’s why I never switch up on you guys either.”
Smart’s well-documented recruiting strategies played a role in James Jr.’s mentality. The first-year said while many coaches stuck with him through the ups of his high school career, Smart was the only one who kept in touch through the lows as well. Now, James Jr. said, he feels comfortable enough with Smart to go over his house and talk about more than just hoops.
“I’ve grown so much at a program like this, coach has helped me grow so much. I wouldn’t rather play for any other coach in the country,” he said. “I don’t think any coach will give me more confidence than he does, and the relationship me and him have is special.”
So, no matter how many other programs want the 6-foot point guard, only Marquette will have him.
“My brothers made it feel like home,” he said. “This is a place where every last person on the team, I have relationship with. I love Marquette. I love Milwaukee. I love Coach Shaka and all the coaches. The staff, players, everybody.”
This article was written by Jack Albright. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU.
