Nate Laszewski Prepares For Next Chapter
As one chapter closes, another is set to begin for Nate Laszewski.
The 6-foot-10 forward recently wrapped up his career at Northfield Mount Hermon with a run to the title game of the National Prep Championship, where they lost a close one, this time to Connecticut’s Putnam Science Academy.
“I’m really proud; two New England championships in three years and back to back National Championship games,” Laszewski said. “It’s been quite a journey. It’s been awesome the whole time.”
Laszewski, who has spent time in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Wisconsin, Belgium and Australia throughout his life, looks back on his last three years at Northfield fondly.
“Coming in and reclassifying for my sophomore year helped me get an extra year for my body to mature because I was really young,” he explained. “I was able to develop my game and play against a lot of Division-I guys every single day. I think it just helped my basketball game overall.”
In a couple months, he’ll be off to Indiana to start his college career with the Irish.
“It’s definitely kind of strange that my time is coming to a close here with only like a month left,” he said. “I’m definitely really excited.
“I’ve been talking to Coach (Mike) Brey and the rest of the coaches. They’re really pumped up to get started working in June. I guess you could say it’s bittersweet.”
Laszewski will arrive as the top-ranked recruit in what could be Brey’s best-ever recruiting class.
“I’m definitely really excited,” said Laszewski, who is a Top 100 player along with fellow classmates Prentiss Hubb, Robby Carmody and Dane Goodwin. Chris Doherty, an AAU teammate of Laszewski’s, rounds out the class with toughness.
“I’ve known Chris for a number of years now. It’s going to be pretty exciting when I get there finally. It’s just getting there and getting to work. It’s going to be awesome.”
Laszewski has already started putting in work to prepare for the next level.
“I’m just working all-around, but really trying to get in the weight room to build strength and add weight,” he said. “That’s my main focus right now.”
His goal is to help the program continue building on what Brey has put together.
“Just try to carry the success the program has had the last few years,” he said. “I’m definitely going to come in and work hard, but I just want to continue the success and hopefully we have an awesome season.”
While his official prep career wrapped up against Putnam Science, Laszewski was offered the chance to compete in the national high school three-point contest Final Four weekend, which he won.
“That was pretty awesome. Getting invited to that and being able to go down to San Antonio, where the Final Four was being held, being able to shoot against those guys and be on TV, it was awesome. It was a pretty amazing experience.”