Team captain Nick Spinoso hopes to guide Penn men's basketball to championship titles

The small town of Port Washington, N.Y. rarely produces Division I athletes. Many end up prioritizing academics over athletics (such as a certain former varsity baseball player writing this article) or simply don’t have the physical ability to get on the radar of top-tier programs. But every few years, an outlier is born with the perfect combination of dedication, physical gifts, and a love for a sport.

In 2002, Nick Spinoso was born. The 6-foot-9 senior forward/center was destined to play basketball from the second he could walk — or dribble. His father, Gerard, spent his college years playing basketball at C.W. Post on Long Island, about 10 minutes from where Nick played his high school games at Kellenberg Memorial.

“[Going to Kellenberg] was great. I loved it. On the basketball side, we weren’t too good,” Spinoso said, chuckling. “But I loved going to a Catholic high school. I loved the people, loved the teachers, it was a great experience.”

After his time at Kellenberg, Spinoso was determined to elevate his play to garner the D-I offers he knew he was capable of attaining. He spent his post-grad prep year at the Canterbury School in Connecticut.

“I had not, honestly, a lot going on at the end of my senior year, and then I decided to do a prep year. And that summer, even though it was COVID, we got to play a few tournaments, and I got some recognition. And then once I was at Canterbury, I got a few offers,” Spinoso said.

Spinoso’s younger brother, John, is taking a similar path by transferring to a prep school — Cheshire Academy. The relationship between the two brothers runs deep, and while they won’t be able to play for the same team, Spinoso is still invested in his brother’s eventual choice.

“[My favorite experience] off the court, I guess even though it is on the court, I had my brother come and visit me, and we just got to walk around the school. It was really cool showing him around,” Spinoso said.

While his brother’s recruiting and college experience is just getting started, Spinoso is nearing the end of his Quakers career. As a senior and captain, Spinoso wants to end his time at the Palestra with a bang and a banner.

“Last year I had a decent year, and we didn’t win. It sucks. I think we’re just so bought in and so focused on winning this year that that’s what you can expect from us,” Spinoso said. “[My goals are to] win a Big 5 and Ivy League championship.”

To get to a point where he feels capable to add two trophies to Penn’s case, Spinoso has needed to develop as a player and as a leader. Especially as one of the elder members of this year’s relatively young team, he will need to play an important role on the court and in the locker room.

“I think Nick has done an incredible job over his four years of really maturing. That’s probably the biggest thing that jumps out at me,” coach Steve Donahue said. “He’s always a great kid and upbeat and fun. Now I think there’s a competitive maturity about him. His work ethic is terrific, he competes. He’s a great teammate, but there’s a little more seriousness dedicated to winning. I think that’s matured over the last three years.”

That competitive maturity was stressed by Spinoso as well. Being motivated, driven, and emotionally invested in winning, while still being mature and in control, is something he has learned to value over the years and now preaches to his teammates. He and his senior teammates understand the importance of intangibles like these in the success of the team.

“I mean me, George [Smith] and Reese [McMullen], we talk so often, a few times a week, just about knowing how we can be better as a group,” Spinoso said. “Especially being a senior and a captain, everything you do is kind of magnified, and you have to think about what you’re doing, and just setting an example and precedent for not only anybody in the program, but anybody who is looking at them.”

While the non-basketball skills and growth are important, so is the on-court product. Spinoso, a strong ball handler for a big man, played a point-forward role in many games last year, commanding the offense with the ball in his hands. This year, that might be set to change.

“My anticipation is that Nick’s going to be receiving that more at the end of possession,” Donahue said.

Despite his efficiency and high assist rate last year, Donahue hopes that the addition of a few stronger wings and the development of sophomore guard Sam Brown as a floor general will allow Spinoso to work more under the rim. In his final year in the Red and Blue, Spinoso hopes his roles, both new and old, will propel his Quakers to pick up some hardware.