Nick Simpson Sets Vermont Tech Single Season Scoring Record
Senior sensation Nick Simpson scored 923 points during the Vermont Tech’s 2010-11 basketball season, leading the Knights to a 25-8 overall record and a #1 berth in the USCAA National Championship Basketball Tournament. Simpson eclipsed the previous school record (697 points) established last season by his backcourt teammate, Kevin Carr.
Vermont Tech had its own version of Batman and Robin during the 2010-11 campaign. Nick Simpson led both the NAIA and the USCAA in individual scoring (29 ppg) while his teammate, Kevin Carr, was third in the USCAA and seventh in the NAIA (24.5 ppg). Carr scored 747 points on the season, breaking his own single season record.
“I never coached a player quite like Nick before,” said Coach John Dyer. “He has amazing basketball instincts. He’s always around the ball. The man is barely six feet tall and he can rebound with anyone. His inside game is very difficult to stop—he always seems to find a way to score. His outside game is also strong. He is capable of burning an opponent from beyond the arc if they give him room. He plays his heart out every time out. When all is said and done, Nick is one of the very best to ever wear a Vermont Tech uniform. More importantly, he is a person possessed of strong faith, a solid character and a compassionate heart. I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to coach him. He’s a very special guy.”
Nick earned multiple accolades this season, including USCAA All-American; First Team All Conference in the Sunrise Conference and First Team All Conference in the Yankee Small College Athletic Conference. Nick was named the USCAA National Player of the Week an incredible four times during the course of the season. He was also named Sunrise Player of the Week and YSCC Player of the Week on multiple occasions.
“When we get around to establishing an Athletic Hall of Fame at Vermont Tech, Nick Simpson will be a first ballot inductee,” claims Coach Dyer. “They just don’t come any better than Nick. If we had been able to have him for four years, he would have broken 2500 points for sure.”
Simpson played two years at Kirtland Community College. Coach Dyer recruited him during his second season at Kirtland. For personal reasons, Simpson could not attend Vermont Tech last season. Instead, he attended a college closer to his home in Bay City, Michigan-- the University of Michigan at Dearborn, an NAIA Division II school. Simpson transferred to Vermont Tech for his senior year and will earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business here. In his four seasons playing college basketball, Simpson scored an incredible 2368 points.
