Great to see Nick Marshall back at the Rockets for 10 Premier League games in 2019 following his "Freshman" year at College.

Nick averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and just 1 turnover in 23 minutes per game and proved to be a very influential player off the bench this year, capable of changing the momentum of a game.

However his time is now up and he heads off tomorrow for his "Sophmore" year and I took the opportunity to get some thoughts on his experiences so far. If you (or particularly your kids) have any interest in attending College in the States, people like Nick, Raymond Harding or Josh Graetz, would certainly be worth chatting to.

 

Anyhow here are some questions I put to Nick and his responses -

Remind us again where you are attending College.

Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.

What do you expect to be different this year?

Not too much different compared to last year. I will certainly have more classes that are directed towards my major, which is Business and Sport Management.

What is it like living in the dormitory?

Living in the dorm, is cool. I get to live with one of the guys on the team. Usually just play video games and chill in the room.

When does training officially start and how many times a week do you train?
We have a team meeting on the 26th or August. Then we start pre-season the following week. For pre-season we usually have 3-6 sessions a week which includes weights and conditioning and we usually have at least one scrimmage a week. In season we practice 3-4 times a week as we play 2 games a week and we also have weights before/after practice depending on when it is.

How important is it to be successful at school? How do you fit it all in?

School is really important because, if we don’t get good enough grades then we won’t be eligible to play. We usually have a couple of hours after classes each day to do home work but we also have study sessions where the whole team goes somewhere to do homework. We also usually have some late nights to do school work after practice. For on the court stuff, to get extra shots up, usually I go before class or throughout the day if I have time.

Are there any other Australians on your roster?

There are no other Australians on the roster. We used to have one last year who was from Victoria.

 

What is the hardest part of going away to College?

The hardest part is being away from family and friends for that long and not being able to see them.

What works for you to make sure you stay on track?

To make sure I stay on track I have to plan ahead and make sure I don’t waste time when I could be doing homework or improving my skills by shooting etc. I also try not to leave things to the last minute.

How many players are on your roster?
There is about 25 players on the roster.

What advice can you give any young Rocket considering College as an option?
Keep working hard and don’t settle for anything.

Thank you again Nick and all the very best for the 2019-20 season.