CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: A Marquette homecoming for this hometown athlete
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Nolan Minessale's high school career ended at Marquette University High School; now it continues at Marquette University.
"I would say it's crazy, literally being like five blocks away from where I went to high school," said Minessale. "Growing up with two parents who went to the school and going to all the games. It's just crazy to have the opportunity to wear the Marquette name on my chest."
The former Hilltopper could not have imagined now being a Golden Eagle in high school.
"Back then I was a really skinny kid, and now I've probably put on like 20 pounds since then," said Minessale.
The 2024 WIAA high school state champion has added more than just weight to his game. Minessale arrives at Marquette after two years at St. Thomas. As a freshman, he averaged 11.3 points per game and led the Summitt League in blocks, averaging 1.1 per game. He got even better as a sophomore. Minessale led the conference in total points and led the Tommies with 19.8 points per game. He was named to the All-Summit League First Team and the All-Summit Defensive Team.
"The harder it got when I went to college, I kind of had to learn different things, adapt different ways, and you know, give up some stuff, add some stuff," said Minessale. "I think it's just been on a journey of finding out what I need and just trying to adapt as quick as I can."
But it all started in high school. Learning from that journey has helped throughout his career.
"We kind of just had a connection together, as a group, and I think I learned so much about what that means towards winning and I'll take that with me forever," said Minessale.
"He fits very well with the Marquette style of getting in your face, and pressure and non-stop, and that is Nolan. He's a relentless competitor," said Casey Kowalewski, Marquette High head coach. "I think MU fans are going to be happy. I think Coach Smart is going to be happy with the type of person, the type of competitor, the type of teammate that he is. You look at how well he's grown in one year (from his freshman year to his sophomore year), I can only imagine two more years with this kind of competition and competitiveness and just his mentality. And I'm really excited for him. I'm really proud of him."
The Brookfield native and his family grew up as Marquette fans watching the greats. Now, he follows in their footsteps.
"To see all these names, I mean, obviously I know all of these guys, and I think it's just surreal to have the opportunity to do what they did," said Minessale. "Obviously they've all left a legacy and it's great to have the chance to go and kind of make my own legacy."
How he plans to do that is clear.
"The biggest thing for me is I just want to win, and I'll do whatever it takes," said Minessale.
"He just fits in. I mean, I don't really know how to explain it. I mean, he makes the right play every time he has a ball. It feels like, you know, he's making the right passes. He's knocking down open shots," said Adrien Stevens, Marquette sophomore guard. "He really just has done a good job of, you know, him becoming us instead of us becoming him."
That passion for winning is what caught the eye of Marquette Head Coach Shaka Smart in the first place.
"One of the things we watched really closely was his reaction in between plays. Good plays, bad plays, good plays that he made, good plays his teammates made. And he demonstrated some passion there, which is what we want. The best guys that we've had, that's who they've been," said Smart. "Nolan's showed that, and now he's new here. He's got to really break out of any little shell he has, and he's got to be that here and that takes time. But we definitely think he has it in him."
"He's been great. In my opinion, he's been one of top five-seven guys, and that's what we've been looking for from him," Smart added.