Prospect Update: Jaden Nielsen-Skinner (2019 South Salem HS/Seattle Rotary/Hoop Salem 17U)
Portland State Team Camp took place this past weekend and Jaden Nielsen-Skinner was admittedly a little nervous. While the quick 5-foot-10 point guard from South Salem is a solid a verbal commit to the Vikings as he could be, the young man known as “Skinny” had yet to set foot on the brand new Viking Pavilion at the Stott Center since it had been completed.
“It was my first time seeing it actually,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “I was a little nervous at first but once I started playing it was cool. I love it, I’m really excited for next year.”
Skinny certainly did his thing on the court at team camp. He showed off deep range on his three, but great quickness in both the half and full courts, either scoring himself on drives or dishing off to teammates for open looks. While his assist numbers weren’t huge largely due to the fact his teammates are getting accustomed to playing with him, the passes were right on target.
Playing on the court he’ll be playing in college was certainly a treat, and he reviewed why he committed to Portland State way back in January. “Definitely the play style, because they’re averaging almost 100 points a game,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “They’re fast paced and I’m a fast-paced point guard and it comes together really well. And Coach Peery talked to my mom first about me and how he wants me here. He wants it to be a family thing, and not just about basketball, which is what I really enjoy.”
And enjoy playing the game is exactly what Skinny has done this off-season. He started off April playing with his home Hoop Salem 17U squad, but when he got the opportunity to play on the EYBL circuit, he jumped at the chance to play the third and fourth sessions with Seattle Rotary.
“It was different being the first time on the circuit for me,” Nielsen-Skinner said. ” The size is definitely bigger but my teammates are great like Marcus (Tsohonis), an Oregon guy. It’s been fun. The first tournament I was a little iffy and nervous, but I’ve been doing pretty well. I’m getting stronger and trying to be a better leader and of course all of the little things.”
Now that play with his South Salem team is wrapping up, he’ll rejoin Rotary in July at the most prestigious Nike tournament in the land. After that, he’ll rejoin Hoop Salem 17U to finish out his last year in AAU ball. “I just want to get better every day and hopefully win Peach Jam,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “Then I can end my career where I started.”
Nielsen-Skinner ranks as the #3 ranked player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.