Nick Alikakos (above) committed to Navy at the end of last week after a long recruitment process. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
Ari Rosenfeld (@realA_rosenfeld)
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From the time he was a freshman at Episcopal Academy, scrapping for double-doubles on a team that contended for an Inter-Ac title, Nick Alikakos has made his mark on the court by virtue of his relentless motor.
Toughness and grit have come to define Alikakos’ game, and have been the main reasons why despite being a bit undersized and a below-the-rim athlete in the halfcourt, he’s been firmly on the radar of Division I programs since his early years of high school.
With his affinity for working hard, it should come as no surprise that joining the armed forces would appeal to the West Chester native. And that’s exactly the decision that Alikakos made last week, committing to the United States Naval Academy and head coach Ed DeChellis.
“I’m really excited to serve my country. I think it’s a big honor,” Alikakos said. “At first I was a little unsure about the entire military aspect, but after I learned more about it, I got excited about that. Also, there’s so many benefits. Basically what a lot of people were telling me is if you go to the Navy you’ll be set for life if you work hard.”
And working hard is something that comes naturally to Alikakos at this point, who has showcased his blue collar game both at Episcopal and on the AAU circuit, where he played for years with Team Final before jumping to the Jersey Shore Warriors this past summer.
He credits his high school coach, Craig Conlin, with developing him in that regard.
“At Episcopal, the main thing that Coach Conlin preaches is toughness and grittiness, and I think that is a huge part of my game,” he said. “Just being tough, being able to guard multiple positions. I don’t mind mixing it up. I think [Episcopal] also helped turn me into a leader, which will definitely be good at the Naval Academy.”
The Midshipmen have been recruiting Alikakos since his sophomore year, and extended a scholarship offer in late July. At the time of his decision, he had recently been offered by Army and was also hearing from Brown, Colgate, and Wofford.
However, it was Navy which consistently showed the most love, tracking the 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward all summer before sealing the deal during an unofficial visit.
“I went up there and I fell in love with the campus,” Alikakos said. “I really loved the staff, whenever we talked. Coach DeChellis, Coach Emmitt Davis was a big part in my commitment, one of them was at almost every single one of my games this summer. I must have played like 40 [games], they were always there.”
A two-time All-Inter Ac performer and one of the league’s 2014-15 co-MVP’s, Alikakos best projects as a stretch forward at the next level, though he does a bit of everything for the Churchmen. He’s at his best operating from the high post, where he can knock down mid-range jumpers, blow by less mobile defenders, or pick apart the defense with his passing ability.
He’s shown flashes over the years of some 3-point range, and if he can combine his vision and ability to handle the ball with a consistent stroke from distance, Alikakos could potentially move out to the perimeter full-time in the Patriot League.
“They think I could play the wing for them, and have a really good career there,” he said of how the Navy staff expects to use him. “They think I’m very versatile and can do a lot of things.”
Since an 0-14 conference campaign in 2011-12, his first year at the school, DeChellis has steadily built a strong program in Annapolis. The Midshipmen have improved their conference record in each of his five seasons, including a 9-9 mark which was good for fourth-place last season.
It goes without saying, though, that a commitment to the Naval Academy is about much more than just basketball. And with his pledge to set sail in service of his country, it’s certainly a good thing that Alikakos is no stranger to the water.
“I go to the beach every summer,” he said. “I don’t get boat sick.”
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