Austin Nichols

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Position:
Forward
Ht./Wt.:
6-9 / 228
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Collierville, Tenn.
HS:
Briarcrest Christian School
Prev School:
Briarcrest Christian School

Career

Has seen action in 61 games (25.7 minutes per game) … The five missed games in his career were due to two separate ankle injuries … Has made 60 starts … Averaging 11.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots … Has 43 assists and 33 steals … Shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 57.6 percent from the free throw line … Has three double-double and 35 double-figure scoring games … Has 32 contests with five or more rebounds … Has 34 multi-block games.

Honors

2014-15 All-American Athletic Conference first team … 2014-15 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 25 first team … Named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week once (Feb. 23, 2015) … Selected to the 2014-15 American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll four times … 2013-14 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year … Selected the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week four times (Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2013; Feb. 17-23, 2014; Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2014; Mar. 3-9, 2014) … Named to the 2013 Old Spice Classic All-Tournament Team.

Team Accomplishments

In his two seasons, the Tigers have a combined 42-24 record … Member of Memphis squad that played its first season in the newly-formed American Athletic Conference in 2013-14 … Tigers posted a 24-10 overall record and a 12-6 league mark … Memphis finished tied for third in the American Athletic Conference regular-season standings … Squad earned an NCAA Tournament at-large berth and advanced to the third round … The 24 victories extended the program’s streak of 20-win seasons to 14 straight … The NCAA Tournament bid extended the Tigers’ postseason streak to 14 straight … The 2014-15 team posted an 18-14 record … Memphis went 10-8 in conference play, posting double-digit conference victories for the 10^th-straight season.

On The Charts

Season: His 93 blocked shots were No. 5 on the career blocks list … His 58.9 FG percentage is No. 1 for a freshman season … Game: His eight blocked shots vs. Oral Roberts are tied for No. 3 with five other players … His seven blocked shots (three times in career) are tied for No. 9 with nine other players … His seven blocked shots are tied for No. 2 by a freshman.

What Could Happen In 2015-16

On his pace of averaging 337 points per season, could reach the 1,000-point milestone … If reached, would be the 51^st player in Tigers history to do so … On his pace of 68 blocks per season, could climb as high as No. 7 on the Tigers all-time blocked shots list (needs only 20 blocks to move into the top-10).

2014-15 Season (Sophomore)

Played in 27 games (29.5 minutes played) and made 26 starts … Missed five games due to two separate right ankle injuries … Led team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and blocked shots (93 total; 3.4 bpg) … Second on squad in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (49.7) … Had 26 assists and 21 steals … Shot 22.2 percent from the three-point arc and 60.7 percent from the free throw line … Posted two double-doubles … Had 21 double-figure scoring games and 19 contests with five or more boards … Recorded 22 multi-block games … Ranked among American Athletic Conference statistical leaders (overall games) in scoring (8^th), rebounding (9^th), field goal percentage (7^th) and blocked shots (2^nd) …

Postseason (The American Tournament): Did not play in the Tigers’ American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal game vs. Temple … Missed his third-straight complete game with a right ankle sprain …

American Athletic Conference play: Saw action in 14 of the 18 conference games (31.4 minutes played) … Made 13 starts … Missed four league regular-season contests due to two separate right ankle injuries (Tigers were 1-3 in those games) … Netted double figures 11 times … Had 11 contests with five or more boards … Posted 12 multi-block performances … Had one double-double … Ranked among American Athletic Conference statistical leaders (conference games only) in scoring (3^rd), rebounding (6^th), field goal percentage (8^th) and blocked shots (2^nd) … Did not play in the final two regular-season contests at Connecticut (win) and Cincinnati (loss) … Scored nine points in 16 minutes of action in the regular-season home finale vs. Tulsa (loss) before suffering his second right ankle sprain in the month of February … Pulled down eight boards and added five blocks and six points in a home loss to SMU … Came off the bench to post 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in a road win at UCF … First start after first right ankle injury was in a home win over Connecticut … Had 16 points, eight rebounds, seven blocked shots and three assists (tied career high) vs. the Huskies … Missed road games at East Carolina (loss) and USF (win) due to his first right ankle injury … Before suffering his first right ankle injury with seven minutes left vs. Temple (home loss), recorded 17 points, eight boards, six blocked shots and three assists (tied career high) … Netted 21 points in a home win over East Carolina … Nearly had a double-double with 17 points and nine boards in a road win at Tulane … Hit the game winner with under :05 left vs. the Green Wave … Netted 12 points in a road setback at Tulsa … Played a career-high 39 minutes in a home win over Cincinnati … Nearly played the entire second half as he only subbed out with under a minute left on the clock … Had 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots vs. the Bearcats … Dished out a career-high three assists vs. Cincinnati … In a road win at Houston, posted 16 points, seven boards and four blocks … Scored a career-high 28 points in a home loss to Tulane … Hit a career-best 13 FG vs. the Green Wave … Also had nine rebounds and four blocked shots vs. Tulane … Posted second double-double of the season (third of career) in the American Athletic Conference opener vs. Houston (home win) … Had 15 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks …

Non-conference play (regular season games only): Started all 13 non-league contests (27.5 minutes per game) … Averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game … Had five assists and 14 steals … Shot 46.5 percent from the floor and 62 percent from the foul line … Posted 10 double-figure scoring games … Had eight contests with five or more boards … Recorded one double-double … Had 10 multi-block games … Nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks in a home win over Jacksonville State … Tied a career best with three steals and added 12 points in a road setback at Gonzaga … Scored 12 points in a home win over Western Illinois … Blocked a career-high eight shots and had 15 points and nine boards in a home victory over Oral Roberts … Hit a career-high seven FT vs. Oral Roberts … Posted a career-high three steals and added 12 points and seven rebounds in a home win over USC Upstate … Scored 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a home victory over N.C. Central … Recorded first double-double of the season (second of career) with 11 points and 13 boards in a home loss to Oklahoma State … The 13 rebounds were a career best … Netted 16 points in a home loss to Stephen F. Austin … In the season opener vs. Wichita State (neutral-site loss), had 10 points and six blocked shots.

2013-14 Season (Freshman)

Started all 34 games (22.8 minutes per game) … First freshman in Tigers history to start every game of his freshman season since Darius Washington Jr. did so in 2004-05 (38 starts) … Averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots … Had 17 assists and 12 steals … Shot 58.9 percent from the floor and 53.6 percent from the free throw line … Posted one double-double … Had 14 double-figure scoring games and 13 contests with five or more boards … Ranked among American Athletic Conference statistical leaders (overall games) in field goal percentage (3^rd) and blocked shots (11^th) …

Postseason (NCAA/The American Tournaments): Started all three postseason contests (24.0 minutes per game) … Averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds … Had three assists, one blocked shot and one steal … Shot 47.6 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from the foul line … In NCAA Tournament play (two games), averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds … Had two assists, one blocked shot and one steal … Shot 55.5 percent from the floor and 40 percent from the free throw line … Scored 15 points and added two boards and one assist in the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament third-round setback to Virginia … Had nine points, six rebounds, one assist, one blocked shot and one steal in the NCAA Tournament second-round win over George Washington … In the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal loss to Connecticut, scored three points and pulled down four rebounds …

American Athletic Conference play: Started all 18 league games (22.7 minutes per game) … Averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots … Had 10 assists and seven steals … Shot 63.9 percent from the floor and 59.4 percent from the foul line … Recorded one double-double … Had nine double-figure scoring contests, including the last six of the regular season … Averaged 14.0 points and shot 67.9 percent from the field in those six games … Ranked among American Athletic Conference statistical leaders (conference games only) in scoring (29^th), field goal percentage (1^st) and blocked shots (7^th) … Nearly had his second double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds in the Tigers’ regular-season home finale vs. SMU (win) … Scored 17 points and pulled down three rebounds in a road loss at Cincinnati … In 33 minutes of action in a home win over Louisville, had 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots … His three assists vs. the Cardinals were a season high … Netted 12 points and added four boards and two blocked shots in a road setback at Houston … Posted his first collegiate double-double with a 17-point, 12-board performance in a home overtime win over Temple … Also blocked a season-best seven shots vs. the Owls … Netted 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in a road win at Rutgers … Had a season-high two steals and added nine points and four rebounds in a road overtime setback at Connecticut … Played a season-low seven minutes in a home victory over UCF … Scored 18 points in a near-perfect shooting game (8-of-9 FG, 2-of-3 FT) in a home win over Rutgers … Also had three boards and three blocked shots vs. the Scarlet Knights … In a four-game league stretch from Jan. 23-Feb. 1 (Houston, USF, at UCF, at SMU), averaged only 3.8 points and 3.3 boards … Shot 38.9 percent from the field in those four games … Had 13 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in a home loss to Connecticut … Posted season bests for FT made (5) and FT attempts (6) vs. the Huskies… Scored nine points and blocked two shots in a road victory at Temple … Posted 10 points and seven boards in a road win at Louisville … Had seven points, two rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in the Tigers’ American Athletic Conference opener at USF (win) …

Non-conference play (regular season games only): Started all 13 non-league contests (22.5 minutes per game) … Averaged 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game … Had four assists and four steals … Shot 55.2 percent from the floor and 52.4 percent from the foul line … Posted four double-figure scoring games … Had seven contests with five or more boards … Pulled down five rebounds and scored four points in a home victory over Gonzaga .. Shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field (12 points) in home win over LeMoyne-Owen … Netted seven points and blocked two shots in a home win over Jackson State … Had nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in a home win over Northwestern State … Averaged 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in helping lead Memphis to the 2013 Old Spice Classic title … Had nine points and five boards in the Old Spice Classic championship-game victory over Oklahoma State … Scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Old Spice Classic semifinal win over LSU … Tied a season-high with nine FG made vs. LSU … Took a season-high 16 FG attempts vs. the Tigers … Netted five of his 19 points in a :41 span in the second half to help cut a 57-49 LSU lead to 57-56 … Hit a key jumper with 1:27 left to give Memphis a 70-66 lead … Nearly posted a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds in the Old Spice Classic quarterfinal victory over Siena … Also had two blocked shots vs. the Saints … Netted a season-best 20 points in a home win over Nicholls … Pulled down five boards vs. the Colonels … Hit a season-high nine FG vs. Nicholls … Had seven points and three rebounds in a road loss at Oklahoma State … Posted six points, five rebounds, one assist, one blocked shot and one steal in his collegiate debut vs. Austin Peay (season-opening home win).

High School

Ranked among the nation’s top players following his senior season … Rated No. 28 by Scout.com, No. 37 by ESPN.com and No. 46 by Rivals.com … Following his senior season, played in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Festival Classic in Louisville, Ky. …

Received All-America recognition from Parade magazine, SLAM magazine (third team) and MaxPreps.com (honorable mention) … Named the 2012-13 Gatorade Tennessee state Player of the Year … Selected The Commercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” 2012-13 Player of the Year … Also named to The Commercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” All-Metro squad … Selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Division 2AA All-State team … Averaged 22.7 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his final season at Briarcrest Christian School … Shot 69.9 percent from the field … Helped lead the Saints to a 26-7 overall record and a Division 2AA state runner-up finish … In the state title loss to Ensworth, scored 42 points and grabbed 17 rebounds … Briarcrest won the Division 2AA West Region crown …

A consensus top-50 recruit ... Rated nationally by ESPN.com (No. 13), Rivals.com (No. 20), MaxPreps.com (No. 22) and Scout.com (No. 50) ... Ranked among the top-15 power forwards in the country by ESPN.com (No. 6), Rivals.com (No. 6) and Scout.com (No. 15) ... ESPN.com ranked him the region’s No. 4 player and the state of Tennessee’ No. 1 recruit ...

In 2011-12, named Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division 2AA’s Mr. Basketball (state Player of the Year) ... A TSWA Division 2AA All-State pick ... Selected to The Commercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” All-Metro squad ... Finalist for The Commercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” Player of the Year honor ...

In 2011-12, helped lead Briarcrest Christian School to a 24-6 overall record ... The Saints were the Division 2AA state runner-up and Division 2AA West Region champion ... Averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocked shots, leading the Division 2AA West Region in all three statistical categories ... Shot 68.5 percent from the field, which was tops in the Shelby Metro area ...
As a sophomore in 2010-11, named to the TSWA Division 2AA All-State squad ... Also selected to The Commercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” All-Metro team ... Averaged 15.0 points and 3.4 blocked shots ... Shot 69.7 percent from the floor, which led the Shelby Metro area.

Personal

Major is undeclared … Birthday is September 20 … Born in Memphis … Son of Mark and Kim Nichols.