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“I want to be the best player in the MAAC.”
These words, spoken by senior forward Greg Nero, are a refreshing bunch for all supporters of Stag basketball.
This time last year, Nero was bedridden amidst multiple illnesses during what should have been his monster senior season.
Head Coach Ed Cooley is among those who will take particular enjoyment in seeing Nero’s ambition and his presence on the court in white and red. “We were moving on as if Greg wouldn’t return”, said Cooley in a recent interview.
Cooley proclaimed Nero a “potential player of the year candidate” provided his health problems do not flare up again during the season.
His return to the team is a big reason why the Stags are being picked by many national outlets to finish at the top of the MAAC this season.
“Greg is a great ambassador for the Fairfield University basketball program,” said Cooley. “It was a godsend both for his life and for our program that he is now back to full health and on the court for us.”
Nero enjoyed an extremely successful career at Red Hook High School in New York prior to joining the Stags. He led the team to a 24-2 record while recording 24.3 points per game his senior year. For his efforts, Nero was selected as the Dutchess County player of the year and First team All-State as a senior.
Nero certainly jumped on the scene right away during his freshman season.
An all-state performer in New York, his credentials spoke for themselves as he looked to make an immediate impact in the MAAC.
Nero put up nearly seventeen points a game over his first six, turning many heads both at Fairfield and around the conference as well.
The early success led to a consistent role in the rotation as a freshman for Nero.
He ended the season as the team’s second leading scorer and blocker – a real rarity for a freshman at any school.
Nero’s performances earned him a spot on the MAAC all-rookie team.
His career at Fairfield was off to a flying start – and he still had three years left.
Nero remained an integral part of the Stags squad during his sophomore campaign.
Named to the preseason All-MAAC second team, expectations were considerably high for the second-year forward.
Starting 19 of the team’s 30 games, he joined point guard John Han as the only Stags to score in all 30 games of the season.
Through the first-half of his career, Nero had begun to establish himself as one of the more consistent and effective forwards within the conference.
Nero was able to enjoy his most successful season as a junior despite nagging back spasms throughout the campaign.
Playing in 28 of the 34 games, he also had 4 key double-doubles against teams both in and out of conference.
Nero ended the season averaging 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He was on track to have a memorable season and help the Stags to their first conference championship since 1997.
Sometimes things don’t work out as we want them to. “Getting Nero back this year is huge, he gives us an inside presence along with some veteran leadership as well”, said Brian Davidson ’11.
Nero recalls losing his vision and breath during the MAAC tournament at the end of his junior year.
A combination of mononucleosis, heart palpitations, and back spasms led to over a year of too many medications, and too much time spent at home in virtual isolation.
Neither Greg nor Cooley was sure if he would ever be running up and down a basketball court again.
“I had to rest for basically a full year,” said Nero. “I was so excited to just get out of the house and get back to school.”
Now Nero is working on making his belated senior season one to remember.
The team has been picked as the pre-season favorite to win the MAAC and move on to the NCAA tournament. In order to do that, Nero needs to resume his role as a double-double threat in the paint for the Stags.
“I feel fine physically but am working on getting my wind and endurance back. My jumping and lateral quickness are starting to come around but I’m not 100% yet”, said Nero. “I have big goals for this year both collectively and individually. Fairfield is the team to beat but the league is very balanced this year.”
According to reports from recent practices and the first exhibition game, Greg is well on his way to regaining the form that made him such a consistent and effective player in years past.
His contributions both on the court and in the locker room as a veteran leader will go a long way in determining how far this team can make it this year.
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