Daishen Nix of Anchorage was one of three players nationally to be accepted into the prestigious NBA G League professional pathway program.
His choice not to attend UCLA and instead cash in on a six-figure contract sent shock waves throughout the college basketball world. The next day the NCAA signaled it would take measures to allow student-athletes to get paid for third-party endorsements.
The 6-foot-5 McDonald’s All-American is a consensus five-star high school recruit and ranked as one of the top point guards in the country.
Nix was raised in Anchorage before his family moved in 2016 to Las Vegas, where he played for Trinity High. He always considered Alaska home and regularly wore promotional gear under his high school jersey to show his state pride.
The athlete of the week recipient is selected by a panel each Friday and announced Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Sports Guys on CBS Sports Radio 590AM and 96.7FM.
View past winners here.