Rogers graduate Nelson landing Division I offers after season at junior college
7/12/2021
Dasean Nelson leaps for a dunk for an NJCAA event last month at Tyler Junior College.
Courtesy of Michel Alfaro / Tyler Morning Telegraph
Dasean Nelson navigated to Texas to play basketball at the junior college level in hopes of developing into a Division I player.
The Rogers High School product took a chance on his talents, and that risk is starting to turn into reward.
“I don’t like to be the center of attention, but I like to be publicized in the right way,” he said.
This time, the attention is deserved, and he has gathered good publicity for himself after picking up three Division I offers following his freshman season at Kilgore College, a junior collegiate program located 120 miles east of Dallas.
“The attention that I’ve gotten here from fans has been incredible and then from Rogers and my hometown.” he said. “It’s been a nice journey.”
On June 24, Nelson announced on Twitter he received an offer from Texas A&M. Less than a week later, he followed by announcing an offer from the University of Cincinnati. On Friday, Nelson tweeted he received an offer from Bryant University.
The 6-foot-8 forward was an All-Blade selection following the 2020 season. He averaged 13.2 points per game — fourth in the City League — was City League co-player of the year, and earned Division II All-Ohio special mention.
With a goal in mind of some day playing in the NCAA tournament, Nelson landed at Kilgore. The program, a member of the NJCAA’s Region XIV, went 16-6 overall and 15-5 in conference play in finishing second in the regular season standings to Trinity Valley Community College (23-3, 20-1).
Kilgore’s program has produced a handful of NBA talent and has pipelined numerous players to the Division I level. Most notably, Kilgore is where former NBA player Marcus Thornton got his start. Thornton eventually transferred to Louisiana State and followed with an eight-year NBA career.
Nelson posted 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 24 games of his initial campaign for longtime coach Brian Hoberecht.
Kilgore won each their first two Region XIV playoff games by double digits before defeating Trinity Valley in a 68-67 nailbiter for the region championship on April 10.
“He fits our style of play,” Hoberecht said. “He has a high motor and plays really hard, and he’s a great teammate. All of those things make him special, and you can see why he’s getting those offers.”
Nelson became a pivotal member of Kilgore’s starting five down the stretch. He scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out four assists — tying a season high — as the Rangers defeated Navarro College 77-62 in the semifinal game.
“Dasean’s done a ton since he’s been here,” Hoberecht said. “[Rogers] coach Rodney Martin did a great job of laying a foundation for Dasean in terms of skill, growth, accountability. When he got here, I think he just continued to flourish with college level coaching and practices.
“Through the course of the season I continued to see Dasean’s maturation as a person, student, and teammate. We were able to accomplish a lot last year as a team winning the region.”
Nelson saved one of his best performances for last in the opening round of the NJCAA’s version of March Madness. He scored a season-high 29 points as Kilgore fell to Hutchinson Community College 95-86.
He recorded his first double-double March 3 when he posted 28 points and 10 rebounds in Kilgore’s win at Blinn College. Ten days later, Nelson tallied 12 points and season-bests 15 rebounds and three blocks in a win at Lamar State College-Port Arthur.
Now, Nelson has his attention focused on those reciprocating it.
With three Division I offers under his belt, he’s back to work.
“If you’re not working then you’re not going to get better and achieve what you want to do in your life,” Nelson said. “My mom always preached to me that if you don’t work then you won’t get what you want. Working on the wrinkles in my game as far as trying to become the best all-around player I can be. Really working on the little skill works as far as getting to certain spots and pulling up instead of going straight to the rim. Ball handling, getting my jump shot better.”
Hoberecht sees more in Nelson than what is on the court.
“Dasean fits us as a person first,” he said. “He’s got the work ethic and personality and can support and encourage and he lives the culture here every day. Obviously he’s extremely talented. He’s an elite-level player, and those all help the equation, of course.”