When senior Nathan Pedrow played his first game of basketball in fourth grade, he knew his future would be spent on the court.
“My hometown had a youth club, and I started playing there,” the power forward said. “I just fell in love with the game.”
Pedrow, who was the leading scorer and third-team all-conference last season, said his love for basketball stemmed from other sports.
“I always thought I wanted to be a football player,” he said, “but once I played basketball, I realized that’s all I want to do.”
After playing at Johnson County Community College for two years, Pedrow transferred to Baker University where head coach Rick Weaver said he fit into the program nicely.
“Nate is a quiet leader,” he said. “He is not a big talker, but he is a reliable, hard worker who gets the job done.”
Pedrow’s drive to be successful is evident to Weaver, and junior Aaron Toren said Pedrow’s love for basketball is obvious to him, as well.
“You can tell how much Nate loves basketball because he works hard,” Toren said. “He does what coaches ask him, and he doesn’t give up.”
Despite having a late start at Baker, Pedrow said he has huge expectations for the team this season.
“My main goal for the team is to make it to the national tournament,” he said. “I’d take a trip to the national tournament over any personal goal I could ever achieve.”
Some ways 6-foot-7-inch Pedrow said his team is working to obtaining that goal is through tough practice and an intense schedule.
“We play in the best conference in America, and playing those teams should help us get (to the national tournament),” he said.
Because Pedrow holds high standards for the team, Weaver said he is an obvious leader on the floor.
“He was selected as one of the team captains by his teammates,” Weaver said. “He has a shot at being one of the better players in the league this year, and he’ll be a key guy for us all year long.”
Agreeing with Weaver, Toren also said Pedrow serves as a clear leader for the team.
“On the court he is a silent leader. He leads by example,” Toren said. “Personally, when I see him making baskets, blocking shots and making rebounds, it is easy to accept him as a leader.”