For Leeroy Nijean, basketball has always been more than a game; it’s been part of his upbringing.
Growing up in France, the forward was deeply immersed in the sport. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Noel Nijean, a professional basketball player in Europe.
Long before he envisioned playing in the United States, Nijean was watching practices, absorbing habits and developing a feel for the game that shaped his identity as a player.
“My dad was a pro,” Nijean said. “I was following him everywhere, watching him practice and all that. That’s when I really fell in love with basketball.”
He used that passion to suit up for France’s JL Bourg Basket’s U21 team. Now, Nijean is using the discipline, defense and team mindset he learned, as he transitions to Miami Dade College.
Through 19 games, Nijean is averaging 10.1 points and a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game, anchoring the Sharks on the glass while continuing to impact winning in ways that go beyond the stat sheet.
“Leeroy does a lot of the dirty work, rebounding, hustling, bringing energy,” said Anthony Breland, the Sharks star player. “He gives us second and third chances and does things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet, but they matter to winning.”
That mentality was born during his time in France. Unlike the more individual-driven style often seen in the United States, French basketball emphasizes connectivity, specific roles and winning as a unit.
“It’s more about the team,” Nijean said. “It’s not about me scoring every night. It’s about winning. Everybody knows their role.”
At MDC, the six-foot-5 big freshman from Peronnas, France has carved out a niche by embracing the physical and mental demands others sometimes shy away from. Nijean prides himself on doing the dirty work, a mindset that has earned him more minutes and his teammates trust.
“Everybody wants to make big plays,” Breland said. “But Leeroy focuses on the little things, extra rebounds, diving for loose balls, playing defense. When someone does that, it gets the whole team going.”
Nijean, a small forward, has embraced multiple roles on the court this year,filling in for often injured six-foot-9 sophomore center Amari Davis, who has only played two games this season, and freshman power forward David Verstraeten, who is averaging 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
As a result, Nijean has often been matched against bigger players but he has managed to secure four double-doubles. The Sharks are 2-2 in those games.
“He’s probably been our most energetic player,” Sharks Head Coach Jorge Fernandez said. “That doesn’t mean the other guys haven’t played with energy, but his energy really stands out. He impacts winning. There are a lot of games where he’s had double-doubles, and he usually guards the other team’s best player.”
That unselfish attitude has helped the Sharks jump out to a 12-7 start, including wins in six of their last eight games, as they shoot for a national tournament playoff bid in Hutchinson, Kansas.
“We want to go to Hutch,” Nijean said. “Go as far as we can.”
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