St. Charles High point guard and captain Nik Pugh along with coach Rick Foster were interviewed in January for an athlete of the week spotlight conducted by KTRS 550 AM right on the back of the Washington Tournament victory at which Pugh was the point leader on behalf of the St. Charles High basketball team. 

Foster has known Nik for several years dating all the way back to sixth grade when he was attending basketball camp at St. Charles High. He has long since been a player on the basketball team since freshman year. Those alongside him in the current varsity team include Martin Murphy who has disclosed and delineated his progression in high school basketball starting from initially playing to his position as a seasoned veteran in current years. 

“Freshman year you were just coming to have fun with basketball and the more you mature the more serious you get about it and start learning the little details about basketball throughout the years and now with senior year it’s more about the experience to help out the younger classes to be better for the future and that’s how it goes for that,” Murphy said. 

Although the maturation of the effects of high school is well documented, instances that will henceforward open opportunities for responsibility. Those with the perspicacity that demonstrate readiness are not really rewarded or appointed for that inclination to lead. Rather, leadership qualities self assimilate and take up the mantle from the acceptance and aptitude of their peers.

“A player steps forward. I don’t tell them to do that, it’s just kind of whoever rises up and whoever assumes that leadership,” Foster said. 

Personal feelings about the methods of succession for captains aside, Foster concludes that the mark of a good captain does take integrity and resilience of character. Pugh believes that the critical, watershed moments he had as a person during his time in high school were the times at which he has had to overcome adversity. Bearing resilience in mind Pugh believes that everyone is capable of overcoming adversity and he is by extension carrying himself in that way at which it is prudent to exact this will. 

“You kind of gotta go with the flow. And you’re going to have some problems but you’re just going to have to find a way to overcome it. I feel like I will always find a way. I feel like everyone finds a way,” Pugh said. 

Pugh is planning on attending McKendree University at which he has received an athletic scholarship. At McKendree Pugh plans not to inundate himself with sports as juggling more than one is what he views as being way too difficult. Pugh took a calculated informed decision and many others like him have taken ownership of their own lives. For most people the most pragmatic outcome can pay the most dividends but idealistic thinking drives them forward to embody something greater. For this reason Pugh has decided to play baseball at McKendree. 

Basketball being an athletic outlet and the ability for the potential to slide into the zenith of leadership potential. For the athletic outlet side of things basketball will persist as that of a positive outlet for players that have developed under its benefits. Benefits in the area of interdisciplinary training and under the prospects of resilience.

“It’s just a serious hobby though. I have other things after high school so it probably won’t happen so it’s just something I like to do on the side just to keep myself in shape,” Murphy said.