Prospect Spotlight: Nick Janedis (2018)
If ever Nick Janedis is feeling down these days, he simply has to hit play and let the video run.
Watching his dramatic tip-in bucket that sent Rock Canyon to the 5A Final Four back in March, easily the biggest highlight of the Colorado prep season, is the only thing he needs to snap out of a funk.
“I’ve watched it more times than I can count,” Janedis told Prep Hoops Colorado. “I see it on my Twitter every day, my Instagram, all the different media outlets it was posted on. Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I can count on that to cheer me up.”
The game-winning bucket by the 6-6 Janedis sent Rock Canyon to its first state semifinal in school history, and the play also exemplified what a player who excels in the intangibles of the game meant to the Jaguars. The numbers Janedis put up as a junior certainly don’t jump off the page. In a little less than seven minutes per game, he averaged two points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 steals.
Yet, Janedis found ways to make the most of his minutes. His tip-dunk in the Continental League title game against ThunderRidge in February was a big momentum play in the Jaguars’ narrow victory. Whether it’s locking down a defensive assignment, hitting the floor for a loose ball or setting solid screens, Janedis’ selfless approach to the game played a key role in Canyon’s 23-4 season.
“That’s one of the biggest parts of basketball,” Janedis said of doing all the little things in a game. “At Rock Canyon we had so many playmakers, like Sam (Masten), Tyson (Gilbert), Colin (Rardin) and J.T. (Bley). You can always rely on them making plays. So you know they’re going to do that, but then it’s the bench guys coming on and getting the 50-50 balls that can really make a difference in the game.”
Now, Janedis is working hard to be prepared for a potential expanded role with the Jaguars come next season. While the Jaguars will return their two leading scorers in Masten and Gilbert, they’ll lose two key seniors in Rardin and Bley. That could provided opportunity for Janedis.
If the spring he spent with the Colorado Cardinals is any indication, he could be ready to make a big leap. Janedis played well for the Cardinals during the Top of the Rockies tournament earlier this month, particularly impressing on the defensive end. At 6-6 with a long reach and some bounce to his step, he has the ability to guard multiple positions, and his outside shot has shown solid growth as well.
“Hopefully I can make more plays here and there throughout the season,” he said. “There’s that blank space that needs to be filled in, whether that’s me or even Blake (Williams), somebody’s going to have to do it. It may not be every game, but as long as that role is being filled that’s all that really matters for the team.”
Janedis projects as a solid, reliable role player for a Division III/NAIA type program who would be a strong addition to the chemistry of any team. He’s a high-academic student with a 3.9 GPA and a 27 ACT score.