Recruiting Update: Jaden Nielsen-Skinner (2019 South Salem HS)
It’s been awhile since Jaden Nielsen-Skinner made a decision on his college future. But there was still another thing for the quick 5-foot-10 point guard from South Salem left to do with his recruitment – make his official visit to Portland State. The young man known as “Skinny” did that just this past weekend and the last thing he’ll get done is sign his letter-of-intent with the Vikings in November.
For his official visit, Nielsen-Skinner was the only visitor of the weekend and he got the full works. He toured campus, talked with athletic and academic advisors, watched the team practice, and hung out with his player hosts, Michael Nuga and former AAU teammate Kyle Greeley. Of note were some meals he shared with the entire coaching staff.
“It was a good time,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “With the coaches, we talked about everything – about next year how I’m going to fit in with the team. Really they were just welcoming me to the city, showing me around.”
While Nielsen-Skinner got to watch practice, he didn’t get a chance to play with the guys. But he did manage to get on the court at the brand new Viking Pavilion and got in at least one attempt – which ended up being a great sign. “I took one shot and I made it,” Nielsen-Skinner said with a laugh. “So I just shot that once and I decided I wouldn’t shoot any more.”
Nielsen-Skinner is one of two in-state players Portland State has targetted for their 2019 incoming class. The other is Aaron Deloney from Grant, and Nielsen-Skinner has been joining in on getting the talented guard to join him on the Park Blocks. “I’ve been posting on social media, I’ve been texting him, trying to get him (to PSU),” Nielsen-Skinner said. “Coach BP (Peery) wants us both there together, and if he wants him there then I want him there too. I’m trying my best to get him there.”
While Nielsen-Skinner committed to PSU way back in January, don’t think that he has stopped working. After a solid season on the AAU circuit, this fall he’s continued to work hard and he recently competed at the Prime Time Top 40 Showcase – where he was arguably the camp MVP according to most observers.
“I felt like I competed well, played my hardest, and tried to make the people around me better,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “I thought I showed people how I play and it was fun. Everyone was playing hard and everyone was playing the right way too – it wasn’t just selfish basketball. There was a lot of ball movement, and that’s what I like to do.”
So with his college future set and AAU and camps all done with, Nielsen-Skinner is now focused on his senior season ahead – one in which he believes the Saxons are capable of some big things. “I think we are state contenders for sure,” Nielsen-Skinner said. “The team I last year is different than the team this year, and the young guys are stepping up. We’re getting in the gym, getting shots up and working, trying to get to that next stage. I think people are going to be surprised with how we play. They’re going to be shocked for sure.”
Nielsen-Skinner currently ranks as the #3 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.