Nick Aldridge

01/03/08: Bill Koch blogs again that Aldridge to Cincinnati is a done deal. http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/sports/default.asp
I'm listing Aldridge as a 2008 'recruit' for clarity.

01/02/08: Bill Koch blogs - "it appears that 6-7 Western Carolina sophomore forward Nick Aldridge might transfer to UC."

12/29/07: Aldridge attends the Miami vs UC game in a Bengals jersey at US Bank Arena and is seen talking to Bearcat coaches after the game. - Mike Ryan

12/13/07: Former South Webster standout Nick Aldridge has quit the Western Carolina team because of disciplinary problems. A preseason All-Southern Conference selection, Aldridge was the Catamounts leading scorer at 18.8 points per game and averaged 5.2 rebounds. WCU head coach Larry Hunter said in a statement that Aldridge quit because he "had some issues that we felt were being detrimental to the development of our team, and we have for some time been trying to help him work through these issues. He has chosen not to work with us any longer. The bottom line is he has quit our team." - Ironton (OH) Tribune

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10/11/05: Aldridge has committed to Western Carolina, per the Asheville Citizen-Times.

08/26/05: "I'm opening my options back up," said Aldridge, also a 2006 recruit, though he did not rule out attending UC. "I talked to Coach Huggins for about 40 minutes (Thursday), and he said there's a good chance he'll get another job. And if that happens, which I think it would, I'll go where he goes." - Enquirer.com

08/25/05: "Without Huggins, Aldridge isn't so sure if he'll sign with UC in November as he had planed. "I'm definitely in a wait-and-see mode," Aldridge said Tuesday night. "I want to see who's hired, what's going on with the situation." - CincyPost.com

08/23/05: "The 6-foot-6 power forward from South Webster, Ohio, has orally committed to Cincinnati, but withdrew that commitment today upon learning of the developments surrounding Huggins' job. . . . “The only way I will stay with Cincinnati is if coach (Andy) Kennedy gets the job or someone else that I like. I'm just really upset right now that coach Huggins is leaving." - Enquirer.com (Verbal to 5)

05/29/05: "Handled the ball quite a bit and showed good range, he was approx 5 for 7 from beyond the arc in the 2 games that I saw him in and only 1 of them was a set shot. Played well in the second game I saw him in, against a talented New Orleans Jazz team but drew double teams almost all game. I want to say he scored 12 points (2-3 beyond the arch), grabbed 4 or 5 boards and dished out what I consider 5 assists. He would have had about 10 more points if the refs would have called half of the hacks he took when going to the hole." - Oleski, forum contributor
Here is more -
http://bearcatnews.com/basketballforum/200505/msg01416.php

05/17/05: "You need someone to extend the defense and he's able to put the ball in the hole," Kreischer said. "I think they kind of see him as a combo 3, 4 man who can knock down shots."

Aldridge said he's happy for the spotlight that comes with playing for a tradition-rich program in a major conference like the Big East. In fact, being in the national spotlight was a big draw, Aldridge said. UC has been to 14 consecutive NCAA Tournaments. They lost this season in the second round to Kentucky, 69-60. Another draw was playing for Huggins. The Bearcats' vocal coach has a 399-127 career record. Huggins' fiery personality is a bonus, said Aldridge. "(After) getting to know coach Huggins a bit, off the court he's laid back," Aldridge said. "On the court he wants to win as much as you do. He's coaching to keep his job so he's coaching just as hard as you’re playing."

Another plus UC had going for it was the Bearcats' weight program. Aldridge said he was looking forward to getting bigger and stronger at UC. "He's 17 years old right now," Kreischer said. "Kids mature around the age of 20. He'll be extremely strong and he has the frame to do whatever he wants to do as far as weights go. "I think he does a lot of things well. He has a mid-range game, something you don't see in Division I anymore. Nick has the size as well as the perimeter game to get it done in the Big East." - Portsmouth Daily Times

05/17/05: "Aldridge said his commitment is to play at UC, "but it's also a commitment to coach Huggins. I fully intend on him being there for my career. I really hope he's there." - Enquirer.com

05/15/05: Dan Hoard reports that Aldridge verbally committed to Cincinnati.

05/14/05: "If Cincinnati is what I'm expecting, maybe Ill give a commitment this weekend," Aldridge said early Friday afternoon. "I'm just going up and see what Cincinnati has to offer in all aspects of the school, not just basketball." - www.BearcatInsider.com (4 to 5)

05/12/05: "Look for Nick Aldridge, 6'6 Jr. PF from South Webster, to commit to an Ohio college that plays in the Big East soon." - www.PrepSpotlight.com

05/07/05: Listed as one of the top 25 players in the state - Rick Bolus

04/01/05: Listed as 6-7, 230 on the South Webster school website. Hit 17 treys on the year.

03/16/05: Named First Team, All State in Div 4 as a junior. Also named Div 4 District POY for the second year in a row.

This is the best picture I could find of Aldridge (white uniform)
http://www.thenews-messenger.com/gallery/live/Boys'%20D%20IV%20Regional%20semifinals/photo08.jpg

03/20/04: "Nick Aldridge had 36 points and 11 rebounds, leading South Webster to a 65-61 overtime upset of fifth-ranked Mansfield St. Peter's on Friday in a Division IV regional final." - Assoc Press

03/01/04: As a soph, averaged 25ppg for the 22-3 S.Webster team.

Created file on 5/12/05. - 4