Prospect Spotlight: Nick Heard (2018)
2018 forward Nick Heard is a big part of what New Smyrna Beach does.
As a junior, the 6’4″, 175-pounder averaged 20.2 points per game, never posting less than 10 points in any of the Barracuda’s 25 matchups. His best performance came in a win over Mainland when Heard scored 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field.
He says he’s aiming to be a better all-around player, which is to shoot, pass, dribble, and defend better this upcoming season.
“What I learned most from my junior season was to trust my teammates more and their roles on the team,” Heard told Prep Hoops Florida. “The biggest part of my game that grew this season was definitely my shooting ability and also one dribble pull up.”
Heard has run with Q6 All Stars Elite since his freshman year. He says his game has improved tremendously because of the coaching staff there.
This summer, he’s been focused on ball handling, playing with a high motor and just being everywhere on the floor.
Heard started basketball at age 8 after playing other sports. He says his dad signed him up for a P.A.L. league and he fell in the love with the game.
He pointed to his shooting, blocking and ability to take charges as his biggest strengths. He wants to be better as a defender and as a ball handler.
Heard wanted to thank Q6 for not only making him a better player in the process, but also a better person.
Right now, no offers have come for the rising senior but he has drawn interest from the likes of Navy, Denver, Brown and Bucknell.
Not only is Heard a hard worker on the court, he takes his grades very seriously. He is a tough nosed player who grinds and rarely gives up on a play. His shooting ability is impressive and is helping him get looks. As his game expands, the offers will come and I think that will be awfully soon.
Film Study: Heard buries the triple in the May Day Hoopfest